At this moment she heard footsteps crossing the courtyard. Then, to her dismay, they entered the lobby. She had only just time to drag down a book from the shelves and open it haphazard; it was a volume on natural history. Anyone would have thought her absorbed, she pored so attentively over that plate of gaudy butterflies, never raising her head to look at the new-comer, who stood a few yards off regarding her with unqualified astonishment. Cyril Blake--for it was he, and no other, who had entered the library--would willingly have withdrawn without attracting her notice; but one of the boys in the sanatorium wanted a certain fascinating book of adventures, and he had promised to fetch it. He knew the volume was in this very recess, and he saw with some annoyance that it would be necessary to disturb her. 'Miss Ross,' he said, in that quiet, guarded tone in which he always addressed her now, 'may I trouble you to move just for one moment? I am so sorry to disturb you, but Willie Taylor--' and then he stopped as though he were suddenly petrified. Audrey had risen quickly, but as she moved aside he had a full view of her face--the flushed cheeks and swollen eyelids told their own tale. 'Good heavens!' he exclaimed, forgetting his errand and speaking in excessive agitation, 'you are unhappy--something is the matter!' and Cyril turned quite pale. Poor Audrey! her feelings were not very enviable at that moment. That she should be discovered by the very person whom she was most anxious to avoid! If he would only go away and leave her, and not stand there asking her questions! But nothing was farther from Cyril's intentions. For the minute he had forgotten everything, except that she was unhappy. 'You are not well, or else something has been troubling you,' he continued, and his voice softened with involuntary tenderness. 'Miss Ross, you promised that we should be friends--will you not treat me as one now? There is nothing I would not do to help you, if you would only tell me what is troubling you.' 'It is impossible,' she returned with a little sob. Oh, if he would only go away, and not speak to her so kindly! 'One must be troubled sometimes, and no one can help me--if you will only leave me to myself.' 'Leave you like this?' 'Yes, indeed--indeed. I cannot talk;' and Audrey wiped away the tears that seemed to blind her. She so seldom gave way--she so seldom permitted herself this feminine luxury of tears--but when once she set them flowing they were simply uncontrollable. She could not help what Cyril thought of her. 'If you would only go away,' she repeated, turning from him as he stood there as though rooted to the spot. 'I cannot go;' and here Cyril's lips became quite white under his moustache.