"Lost to all here. Have you forgotten our brief conversation, the night you went into exile? I told you then there was one far more worthy of you than I could have ever been." "None will ever be half so worthy; or--I will say it, Alice, in spite of your warning hand--half so loved." "Gerard," sinking her voice, "she has waited for you." "Nonsense," he rejoined. "She has. When she shall be your wife, you may tell her that I saw it and said it. She might have had John Cust." "My darling----" "Stay, Gerard," she gravely interrupted; "those words of endearment are not for me. Can you deny that you love her?" "Perhaps I do--in a degree. Next to yourself----" "Put me out of your thoughts whilst we speak. If I were--where I may perhaps soon be, would she not be dearer to you than any one on earth? Would you not be well pleased to make her your wife?" "Yes, I might be." "That is enough, Gerard. Frances----" "Wait a bit," interrupted Gerard. "Don't you think, Alice, that you have the morbid feeling on you yet? With this dread removed--which, as you truly express it, must have been to you a very nightmare--you may, nay, I think you will, regain health and strength, and be a comfort to us all for years." "I may regain it in a measure. It is simply impossible that in any case my life will be a long one. Let me--dear Gerard!--let me make some one happy while I may! Hark! that's the door--and this is her light step on the stairs!" Frances Chenevix came in. "Good gracious, is it you, Gerard!" she exclaimed. "You and Alice look as if you had been talking secrets." "So we have been," said Alice. "Frances, what can we do to keep him amongst us? Do you know what Colonel Hope has told him?" "No. What?" "That though he shall be reinstated in favour as to money matters, he shall not be in his affection or his home, unless he prove sorry for that past rebellion of his." "When did the colonel tell him? When did he see him?" "This morning: before Gerard came here. I think Gerard _is_ sorry for it: you must help him to be more so." "Fanny," said Gerard, while a damask flush mantled in her cheeks, deeper than the hectic making havoc with those of Alice, "_will_ you help me?" "As if I could make head or tail of what you two are rambling about!" cried she, as she attempted to turn away; but Gerard caught her to his side. "Fanny--will you drive me again from the house?" She lifted her eyes, twinkling with a little spice of mischief. "I did not drive you before." "In a manner, yes. Do you know what did drive me?" She had known it at the time; and Gerard read it in her face. "I see it all," he murmured; "you have been far kinder to me than I deserved. Fanny, let me try and repay you for it." "Are you sure you would not rather have Alice?" she asked, in her clear-sighted independence.