"Well, no, I haven't," he said, "and this is the opportunity I have long hoped would come my way. Now, when is this bad-tasting stuff supposed to take effect?" Again Thurso beat the air with his hands. "Oh, it's my fault, it's all my fault!" he cried. "Maud, can't you persuade him? You are friends." "No, dear Thurso," she said quietly. "I can't persuade him, and I don't want to." Thurso sat quivering there a moment longer, then he suddenly got up, dashed through the curtained doorway, and a moment afterwards the curtain again bellied inwards, rising free of the ground, and showing that the gale had got into the house again. Then the front-door banged to, and the wind subsided. "He has gone out again," said Maud. "Is it safe to leave him?" "Oh yes. I think he has gone for a doctor, or he may have gone just to despair by himself. Then he will come back and see. He will not harm himself; he won't even catch cold," he added, smiling. "You are sure?" she asked. "Yes; so are you. Why, Divine Love is pouring into him on all sides. It has got to break him first, then it builds so tenderly, so gloriously." He looked at her for a long moment. "He is cured, you know," he said. "It's over." Then in flood there came over him all that he had so resolutely banished all these days. He felt that his visit as healer must come to an end at once. But he would see them again, see her again. "There is no longer any reason for me to stop here," he said. "It's rather a rough night, but if you don't think it is very rude and abrupt of me, I think I'll go back to town at once." Then Maud's lip quivered, and her eyes brimmed over. "Without letting me say 'God bless you?'" she asked. "No; thank you for that," he said gravely. She took both his hands in hers for a moment, silently thanking him. Then she looked at him once more. "You mustn't think of going up to-night, or to-morrow, or, I hope, for a long time," she said. "You say your work is over, and so I believe. But won't you stay a little while with your friends when they ask you?" "As your friend?" he said. "Yes, mine and Thurso's." They looked at each other, still gravely. "Thanks, yes," he said. "It is kind of you." But his hour had come. "Maud, Maud," he cried, "don't you know what I have kept back so long? Why, I love you, I love you!" * * * * *