There had been no further talk of the nurse leaving, and matters had remained in abeyance. Sir Denton had been down twice and given his instructions, and she had resigned herself to her position--knowing that the invalid depended upon her for everything, refusing even to take his food from other hands, and that if she persisted in her wish to go, the consequences might be terrible. It must have been a terribly lonely life, for she seemed to be avoided by all in the house. She saw Neil, of course, frequently in the sick room, but few words passed, and those he uttered with formal respect, as he gave her some instructions. Alison she saw from time to time, evidently watching her window, and from him came flowers and fruit daily, Maria being the bearer, and setting them down with an insolent sneer, which would have roused one less dignified and patient to some retort. But Nurse Elisia had her consolations in the progress of the patient and the grateful looks he gave her, while, regularly now, stealing in hurriedly, and as if she were performing some guilty act, a little figure crept in, last thing, to pass its arm about her neck, kiss her, and say "Good-night." It was then at the end of a fortnight, and Ralph Elthorne, terribly changed, but recovering now fast from the shock, lay near the window, while Nurse Elisia sat close at hand, working, and ready to attend to his lightest wish. He had been lying there very silent since his son's last visit to the room, when he suddenly raised one thin white hand, and beckoned. Elisia was at his side in a moment. "What can I get you, sir?" she said gently. "Nothing. Come and sit here. I want to talk to you." "Do you feel strong enough, sir?" "Yes." She brought her work and sat near him, but he signed to her to put the work away. "I want to talk to you seriously about the past." She glanced at him quickly, and he went on. "Yes--about the past. I have not said a word till now. I have been too weak, and it is only just within the last day or two that I have grasped it all thoroughly." "Pray leave it still, sir," she said, with some show of agitation. "No, I must get this all off my mind. Now, tell me--you heard what my son said on the day of my seizure--my son Neil?" She bowed her head. "Well, has he made further advances to you?" "No, sir, we have only spoken in your presence." There was a pause, and then, gazing at her curiously, he continued. "Did you--know--what he expressed--before you came down here--at the hospital?" "Yes, sir, perfectly well." "Ah! Then ought you to have come?" "It was my duty sir," she said with animation; "it was Sir Denton's wish--almost his command; and, knowing what I did, I felt that I might come." "Knowing what you did? What was that?" "I could trust myself, sir, to let Mr Neil Elthorne see that what he wished was impossible." "Ah, but he offered you his hand?" "Yes, sir, and I refused." Again there was a pause.