"I expect that when you have breakfasted, in your room if you wish, that you will come and talk to me, perhaps do a little writing, or go out to drive, or what you wish, and that we shall lunch, and in the afternoon do whatever turns up. You will want to go out and see your friends and do what you please. And perhaps you will play to me as often as you feel inclined, and after dinner we can go to the theatre, or read, or do whatever you like. And as soon as my treatments with these doctors are concluded, and I have my new leg and eye, and we shall hope war is finished, we can travel, or go back to England, and then I shall begin taking up a political career, and I shall hope you will take a real interest in that and help me as though I were your brother." "Very well." "You will order the clothes to-day?" "Yes." She was subdued now, the programme was not very formidable, except that it contained daily companionship with me. "Have you told the Duchesse de Courville-Hautevine yet that we are engaged?" I asked after a moment's pause. Discomfort grew in her manner. "No." "Do you think that she will not approve of the marriage?" "She may not." "Perhaps you would rather that I told her?" "As you please." "I want you to understand something quite clearly, Alathea." She started when I said her name, "and that is that I expect you to treat me with confidence, and tell me anything which you think that I ought to know, so that we neither of us can be put in a false position, beyond that, believe me, I have no curiosity. I desire a companionship of brain, and a sort of permanent secretary who does not feel hostile all the time, that is all." I could see that she was controlling herself with all her will, and that she was overwrought and intensely troubled. I knew that some barrier was between us which I could not at present surmount. All she said after a minute was: "How did you know that my name was 'Alathea'?" "I heard your little sister call you that the day I saw you in the _Bois_. I think it a very beautiful name." Silence. Her discomfort seemed to come to a climax, for after a little she spoke. "The twenty-five thousand francs beyond the twenty-five I asked you for, I cannot return to you. I feel very much about it, and that you should pay for my clothes, and give me presents. It is the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life,--to take all this." "Do not let it bother you, I am quite content with the bargain. Perhaps you would rather go now after we have selected which room you will have." "Thank you." She gave me my crutch, and I led the way and she followed. I knew instinctively that she would choose the room which was furthest from mine. She did! "This will do," she said immediately we entered it. "The look-out is not so nice, it only gets the early morning sun," I ventured to remark. "It is quieter." "Very well." "It was rather arranged for a man, and is perhaps severe. Do you wish anything changed?"