Bruce was always depressed now, and if he felt a little more cheerful for a moment he seemed to try and conceal it. No doubt his melancholy was real enough, but it was also partly a pose and a profession. Having undertaken to be depressed, he seemed to think it wrong to show a gleam of brightness. Besides, on Sundays Madame Frabelle usually listened to him; and this afternoon she had gone, unaccompanied, to hear the Rev. Byrne Fraser preach. Bruce felt injured. He had grown to feel quite lost without her. 'He's very dull there,' said Edith. 'I dare say he is,' he answered. 'I'm sure _I_ should feel half inclined to cut my throat if I were alone, with a game leg, at a place like that. Besides, they've had the Zepps there already once. Just the place for them to come again.' 'He's very bored. But he's much better, and he's going back to the front in a fortnight.' 'In a fortnight! Good heavens! Pretty sharp work.' 'It is, indeed. He's counting the hours till he can get off.' Bruce, sighing, lighted his cigarette. 'I wondered if you'd mind, Bruce, if I went down for the day to see him?' 'Mind! Oh _dear_, no! Of course, go. I think it's your duty, poor old chap. I wondered you didn't run down for the weekend.' 'I didn't like to do that,' she said. 'Why on earth not?' said Bruce. 'Hard luck for a poor chap with no-one to speak to. Going back again; so soon too.' 'Well, if you don't mind I _might_ go down tomorrow for a couple of days, and take Dilly.' 'Do,' said Bruce eagerly; 'do the kid good.' Edith looked at him closely. 'Wouldn't you miss her, now that Archie's at school too? Wouldn't the house seem very quiet?' 'Not a bit!' exclaimed Bruce with emphatic sincerity. 'Not the least bit in the world! At least, of course, the house _would_ seem quiet, but that's just what I like. I _long_ for quiet--yearn for it. You don't half understand my condition of health, Edith. The quieter I am, the less worried, the better. Of course, take Dilly. _Rather_! I'd _like_ you to go!' 'All right. I'll go tomorrow morning till Tuesday or Wednesday. But wouldn't it seem the least bit rude to Madame Frabelle? She talks of going away soon, you know.' 'Oh, she won't mind,' said Bruce decidedly. 'I shouldn't bother about her. We never treat her with ceremony.' * * * * * When, a little bit later, Madame Frabelle came in (with a slight perfume of incense about her, and very full of a splendidly depressing sermon she had heard), she heartily agreed with Bruce. They both persuaded Edith to run down on the Monday and stay till Wednesday evening at least. 'Perhaps we shall never meet again,' said Bruce pleasantly, as Edith, Dilly and the nurse were starting; 'either the Zeppelins may come while you're away, or they may set your hotel at Eastcliff on fire. Just the place for them.' 'Well, if you want me you've only to telephone, and I can be back in a little more than an hour.'