"Silence!" he cried sharply out. "You don't know anything at all. I have had her radiant--like a moonstone. When am I to see her?" "I'll tell her that you want to see her--but it would be reasonable if she refused." "She won't refuse," he said. * * * * * James must be told, of course. He took it quietly. "Yes, on the whole--yes. I don't think you can refuse him that. It will try you." "It will be horrid--but anyhow you know everything he can say." "He doesn't know that I do. He'll build on that." "Build!" said Lucy quickly. "What sort of building?" "Oh, fantastic architecture. Bowers by Bendemeer. Never mind. Are you going?" "Yes," said Lucy slowly. "Yes, I'll go now." She went to him and put her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes searched his face, and found it inscrutable. "You mind," she said, "I know you do. You ought not--but I'm glad of it." He humbled himself at once. They parted as lovers part; but for the life of him he could not understand how she could find the heart to go. With himself, now, it would have been a point of honour not to go. He did not see that the more a woman loves the more love she has to spare. Vera Nugent took her into the room, pausing outside the door. "You'll find him very jumpy," she said; and then, "My dear, you're so sensible." Lucy, who knew that she meant precisely the opposite, said, "No, I don't think I am. I'm excitable myself. What do you want me to do?" "Keep cool," said Vera. "He won't like it, but it's important." Then they went in. "Jimmy, here's Mrs. Macartney." The quick eyes from the bed had been upon her from the first. It was immediately evident to her that she was not to be spared. She heard his "At last!" and braced herself for what that might mean. "I should have come before if the doctors had approved--so would James and Lancelot," she said as briskly as she might. He took no notice of her addition. Vera Nugent, saying, "Don't let him talk too much," then left her with him. She began matter-of-fact enquiries, but he soon showed her that she had not been brought in for such platitude. He played the mastery of the invalid without hesitation. "Oh, I'm very sick, you know. They tell me that I shall be as fit as ever I was, if I behave--but really I don't know. I've a good deal behind me--and not much before--so that I'm comparatively indifferent how the thing goes.... Look here, Lucy," he said suddenly--and she stiffened at her name--"I have to talk to you at last. It's wonderful how we've put it off--but here it has come." She said in low tones, "I don't see why we should talk about anything. I would much rather not. Everything is changed now--everything."