"You see," said Roddy, "there's Ramathlabama. Well--Plumer lost a lot o' men there and they say his crowd have had fever too and there ain't much to hope for there--now Roberts----" But Lord John's attention was distracted. He wished to be quite sure that Christopher did not regard him with severity. "You look fagged out, Christopher." "I am!" said Christopher, smiling. "I'm feeling a bit done up, too. Think I'll take Adela abroad somewhere for a little." "I should," said Christopher. "Excellent thing for both of you." "Now where do you suggest?" "Oh, anywhere different from London. Go on a cruise----" "Adela's a bad sailor--wretched. I'm not very good myself." They discussed places. Christopher was more than friendly. There had been occasions when he had been the stern family physician and had treated Lord John with some severity. Now there was implied a new comradeship as though they had passed through perils together and would have always between them in the future a strong bond of friendship. John felt that the atmosphere at this moment was so friendly and comforting that he would not risk the disturbance of it. He got up. "Think I'll be going on, Roddy. Don't like leaving Adela alone. Rachel will be on her way here now, so I'll be getting back." He was staying with Adela at a quiet little hotel in Dover Street. "Well, good-bye for the moment, Christopher. Adela'd be very glad if you'd come in and see her. Come and have lunch with us to-morrow." "Thanks, I will." He stood, for a moment, looking out upon the park, warm and comfortable under the sun. He thought of Rachel. He had regained the old Rachel the other night at Beaminster--dear Rachel! Rachel, Roddy, Christopher--how nice they all were! There was, he felt, a new feeling of security amongst them all. Yes, he really _did_ believe that life, now, was going to be very comfortable and safe and easy.... "So long, Roddy." He beamed happily upon them and went. Jacob, the dog, came in from his afternoon walk, very grave, paying no attention to Christopher, but going at once and lying, full length, near Roddy's sofa, his head between his paws, his eyes fixed upon his master. "What's happened to all your other dogs?" asked Christopher. "They must be missing you very badly." "Oh, they're down at Seddon, got a jolly good man there whom I can trust--don't think they miss me. _This_ beggar would though. Funny thing, Christopher--when I was goin' about and all the rest of it I thought nothin' of this dog, couldn't see why Rachel made such a fuss of it--now--why I don't know how I'd ever get on without it, so understandin' and quiet with it all too. Nothin' like a trouble of some sort for showin' who's worth what, whether they're dogs or people...." "I hope the funeral did Rachel no harm," Christopher said.