“And what if you hurt me now, Nollie?” Noel pressed his hand against her warm cheek. “Oh, no! Oh, no! I don't—I won't. Not again. I've done that already.” “Very well, my dear! then come home with me, and we'll see what's best to be done. It can't be settled by running away.” Noel dropped his hand. “No. Twice I've done what you wanted, and it's been a mistake. If I hadn't gone to Church on Sunday to please you, perhaps it would never have come to this. You don't see things, Daddy. I could tell, though I was sitting right in front. I knew what their faces were like, and what they were thinking.” “One must do right, Nollie, and not mind.” “Yes; but what is right? It's not right for me to hurt you, and I'm not going to.” Pierson understood all at once that it was useless to try and move her. “What are you going to do, then?” “I suppose I shall go to Kestrel to-morrow. Auntie will have me, I know; I shall talk to Leila.” “Whatever you do, promise to let me know.” Noel nodded. “Daddy, you—look awfully, awfully tired. I'm going to give you some medicine.” She went to a little three-cornered cupboard, and bent down. Medicine! The medicine he wanted was not for the body; knowledge of what his duty was—that alone could heal him! The loud popping of a cork roused him. “What are you doing, Nollie?” Noel rose with a flushed face, holding in one hand a glass of champagne, in the other a biscuit. “You're to take this; and I'm going to have some myself.” “My dear,” said Pierson bewildered; “it's not yours.” “Drink it; Daddy! Don't you know that Leila would never forgive me if I let you go home looking like that. Besides, she told me I was to eat. Drink it. You can send her a nice present. Drink it!” And she stamped her foot. Pierson took the glass, and sat there nibbling and sipping. It was nice, very! He had not quite realised how much he needed food and drink. Noel returned from the cupboard a second time; she too had a glass and a biscuit. “There, you look better already. Now you're to go home at once, in a cab if you can get one; and tell Gratian to make you feed up, or you won't have a body at all; you can't do your duty if you haven't one, you know.” Pierson smiled, and finished the champagne. Noel took the glass from him. “You're my child to-night, and I'm going to send you to bed. Don't worry, Daddy; it'll all come right.” And, taking his arm, she went downstairs with him, and blew him a kiss from the doorway.