She took up the bottle, and examined it close to the light. There was an ominous silence. "Well?" he asked in pure amusement. "It--it was the--lotion for your eyes!" The last words came out in a desperate rush, and there was tragedy in her tone. But Desmond laughed as he had not laughed since his parting with the Boy. "Come on, then, and square the account by doctoring my eyes with the medicine." "Oh, Theo, don't! It isn't a joke!" "It is, if I choose to take it so, you dear, foolish little woman!" She handed him the refilled glass; then, to his surprise, collapsed beside the bed and burst into tears. "Ladybird, what nonsense!" he rebuked her gently, laying a hand on her head. "It's not nonsense. It's horrible to be useless and--idiotic, however hard you try. It might easily have been--poison, and I might have--killed you!" "_Only_ it wasn't--_and_ you didn't!" he retorted, smiling. "You're upset, and worn out from want of sleep; that's all." She made a determined effort to swallow down her sobs, and knelt upright with clasped hands. "No, Theo, I'm not worn out; I'm simply stupid. And you're the kindest man that ever lived. But I mustn't cry any more, or you'll get ill again, and then Honor will be really angry!" "Oh, shut up about Honor!" he broke out irritably; and set his teeth directly the words were spoken. Evelyn started. "I won't shut up about Honor! I love her, and you're very ungrateful not to love her too, when she's been so good to you." She spoke almost angrily, and he made haste to rectify his slip. "No. I'm not ungrateful. I--love her right enough." He thought the statement would have choked him. But Evelyn noticed nothing, and for a while neither spoke. "Look here, Ladybird," he said suddenly, "I can't have you calling yourself names as you did just now. You only get these notions into your small head because I have condemned you to a life that makes demands on you beyond your strength. I ought to have seen from the start that it was a case of choosing between the Frontier and you. At all events, I see it clearly now; and--it's not too late. One can always exchange into a down-country regiment, you know. Or I have interest enough to get a Staff appointment somewhere--Simla, perhaps. How would that suit you?" The suggestion took away her breath. "You don't _mean_ that, Theo--seriously?" she gasped; and the repressed eagerness in her tone sounded the death-knell of his dearest ambitions. "I was never more serious in my life," he answered steadily. "You would leave the Frontier--the regiment--and never come back?" "You have only to say the word, and as soon as I am on my feet again I'll see what can be done." But the word was not forthcoming; and in her changed position he could see nothing of her face but its oval outline of cheek and chin. He waited; holding his breath. Then, at last, she spoke.