"I'm all right," I said suddenly. "I'd lost my way, see? And one of the tires went, just as I was passing a big white house on the left. I stopped under a balcony, I think." "That's right," said Bill Bairling. "Balcony of Silvia's room." "I never knew it was St. Martin, though. I must have cut across country somehow. Still. Well, there was no jack on the car so I couldn't do anything. Just as I was getting in again, I heard a noise above me and turned. My foot slipped on the step, and I fell on my side. Couple of ribs gone, I think. I tried to get on to Fladstadt. Is the car all right?" "And you said you weren't hurt," cried Silvia, sinking on her knees by Jill. "Was it you who asked me?" I spoke steadily, looking her full in the eyes. "Yes," said Silvia. "I know I did. But then, you know, I don't always mean what I say." Then the pain surged up once more, and I fainted. "Is she kind as she is fair? For beauty lives with kindness. Love doth to her eyes repair To help him of his blindness, And, being helped, inhabits there." The singing was very gentle. Overnight the song had floated into the air, rich, full, vibrant; but now a tender note had crept into the rendering, giving the melody a rare sweetness. I listened pleasedly. My side was very sore and stiff. Also my head ached rather. "Priceless voice that little girl's got," said Berry in a low voice. "Isn't she a dear, too?" said Daphne. "Fancy giving up her own bedroom, so that we could have the salon next door." "I know. But I wish she wouldn't keep on reproaching herself so. If a girl likes to step on to her own balcony, it's not her fault if some fellow underneath falls over himself and breaks a couple of ribs. However. When's the comic leech coming back?" "This afternoon," said my sister. "But he'll wake before then. I don't expect he'll remember much about last night. I'm so thankful it's not more serious." "How soon did he say he'd be up?" "Inside a week. It's a clean fracture. Of course, he'll be strapped up for some time. Fancy his going on, though." "Must have been temporarily deranged," said my brother-in-law airily. "Shock of the fall, I expect." "Rubbish!" said his wife. "Just because you'd have lain there, giving directions about your funeral and saying you forgave people, you think anybody's mad for trying to get on. Boy has courage." "Only that of his convictions," said Berry. "You forget I've got a clean sheet. My discharge from the Navy was marked 'Amazing'. The only stain upon my character is my marriage. As for my escutcheon, I've shaved in it for years." "Fool!" said his wife. "I shall turn my face to the wall if you're not careful." "Don't," said Daphne. "Remember, it's not our house. "There was a tap at the door. Then: "May I come in?" said Silvia. "Of course you may, dear. No. He's still asleep."