This seemed probable, inasmuch as her trunks were still at Mrs. Parks’, and one day when Rex was able to sit up in bed for an hour or so, Rena received a letter from her saying that her mother was better and she was coming to Oakfield very soon. As Rex had not spoken of her since he received her note, it was with some hesitancy that Rena told him of her intended visit. He was very bright that morning, and was sitting up in bed with his dressing-gown on and with a look of expectation on his face as he waited for Rena, who was later than usual. “Hallo!” he said, when she came in, “I began to think my head nurse had struck.” “No danger of that,” she replied, “I went with Tom to the grove and the well. It is covered with boards now, so no one can look in it.” At the mention of the well Rex’s face clouded and his voice was not quite natural as he said, “I was foolish enough to look in it, you know.” “Yes, I know,” Rena answered, “and Irene played you a joke, just as Tom did me, and Sam did Lottie. There’s a great temptation to do it, I think.” She was speaking for Irene, trying to excuse her, but Rex’s face was still clouded, and he winked hard as for a moment the eye danced around the room and finally alighted on Rena’s hair. With a quick movement he brushed it off, letting his hand linger a moment on the brown head with a loving pressure. “It’s gone, and Richard is himself again,” he said, with a smile, while Rena, guessing what he meant, replied: “Yes, and very soon you will see the original—the beautiful eyes themselves—for Irene is coming.” Instantly Rex’s face was white as the pillow behind him. Then the pallor passed as he asked, “Is she coming to stay?” “Oh, no,” Rena replied. “She can’t do that. She is coming for her trunks and to see us and you. She is very anxious about you.” “She is very kind,” Rex said faintly, then added, quickly, “Will her coming keep you from me?” “No,” Rena answered. “We shall both be here a great deal. You will be glad to see her?” For a moment Rex did not reply, then he said: “Ye-es, but the doctor says I must not see people yet.” “I know, but Irene will not tire you,” Rena replied, at a loss to understand his evident shrinking from seeing Irene. She did not stay long that morning, for she was to take a drive with Tom, and Rex did not try to detain her. He wanted to be alone, and after she was gone he lay so still with his eyes closed that I thought he was asleep. Rousing up at last he said, “Send Mr. McPherson to me, please.”