"Nothing in particular on the sea, I dare say, but something very particular in your mind. What are you dreaming about? . . . Now I mean to know . . . What was it? Dr. Bryant?" "No." "Or me?" "Or Sissie?" Lettice half faltered a "No," and stopped. "Not exactly," she said faintly. She had been thinking rather of life without Sissie, at that moment. "You were dreaming about Sis: something or other. What was it? Now I mean to know, so it's no earthly use your trying to hide it. Has Sis been making you and herself miserable about this Bristol plan?—Worrying because she can't teach? If she has, you must just not let her. Things can't be helped, and it's no use to fret." "Sissie doesn't say much—" "But she thinks; and you know what she is thinking about. Is that it?" Lettice's lips formed a "No." "Then you are bothering your own brains about the journey. That's nothing. It will all go off as well as possible. Nothing to mind!" "O no—indeed—" "Then what is wrong? Out with it!" "I'm only silly. If you wouldn't ask any more—please—" Lettice was debating with herself—should she tell him all? True, Cecilia had not meant her to know: and she had learnt the truth by accident. But now that she did know it, might she not speak freely to her brother? That was one side of the question. On the other side—why should he know so soon? Might he not keep his happy ignorance just a little longer? "When you have told me what is the matter, I'll stop. So out with it!" Lettice breathed quickly. Twice she opened her lips, and shut them again. Felix bent to look into her face, and she murmured: "I thought—I thought—if Sissie—" "Well! If Sissie—" "Were to die—" Two great tears splashed upon his wrist, and Felix, after one quick movement, said not a word. He had had for the moment a quietus. It was Lettice, not he, who spoke next: and she had suddenly regained her usual voice. "I didn't mean to say it, only you made me." "What can have put such an absurd notion into your head?" demanded Felix brusquely. "Has anybody been talking nonsense? Dr. Rotherbotham—?" "Sissie always sends me out when he comes." "Mrs. Crofton—?" "O no." "Or Mr. Kelly?" "No." "You are sure?" Lettice flushed painfully. "He didn't, indeed. Nobody has. It is only—only something I overheard Sissie say. Something I was not meant to hear. Ought I to repeat it to you? She seemed to think she—she—could not—ever be well again—" "She meant she could not be quite as she used to be. Besides, Sissie is nervous. Sick people always are. That is nothing." "She said—Dr. Rotherbotham had told her—"