"It was just as if I had said, all the things which we have always left unsaid, wasn't it? It was just as if I had shouted aloud, all the things which we have always been so careful to ignore. It--troubled you--then. It troubles you still. It will be a long time, before I shall be able to forgive myself, for what happened last night-- "I have always wanted to help you, to serve you, to make things easier for you, you see--not to add to your difficulties. But we have helped you, Uncle Bond, and I, and the Imps, haven't we! It has been good for you to come here, to us, in Paradise, for rest, and quiet, and peace, hasn't it? There is an old fairy story about a man who was haunted by his shadow, that the Imps are very fond of, that I have always connected with you, in my own mind. You are haunted by your shadow, aren't you? You are haunted by the shadow of your rank, of your position, of your responsibility. But you have always been able to forget your shadow here with us--until last night--haven't you? It has always been waiting for you, when you went away in the morning, you picked it up again in the lane, on your way back to town, I know. But, while you were here, you never saw your shadow, until last night, did you?" "It has always been just like that," the King murmured. "With you, I have always been able to live, in the present moment--" "It always _shall be_ just like that," Judith declared. Then she stood up abruptly. "But I am not going to talk any more now," she said. "I must go in. The Imps will be awake by now. But I shan't bring them out here. I want you to rest. I promised the Duke, that I would see that you got as much rest as possible, whenever you came here. I--like the Duke. He--cares more for you--than you realize, Alfred, I think. You will try to rest now, won't you? How much sleep have you had in the last twenty-four hours? Three hours, last night? You are too reckless. I am not surprised the King's physician is turning grey. The Duke told me that. You can't stay up on the bridge indefinitely. You will find that you will be able to sleep now--after all my plain speaking! Are you comfortable in that chair? Let me give you this cushion--" She lingered beside him, seeking to make him comfortable, as a woman will. "I treat you, just as if you were one of my boys, don't I?" she said. "I know you like it. But I do it--in self-defence." The King submitted, passively, to her ministrations. Then he caught her hand, and raised it to his lips. His action, like so many of his actions, was quite impulsive. But he did not regret it. In what other way could he have expressed so well, his admiration, his gratitude, his renewed trust? Judith blushed charmingly. Then, suddenly, she leant down over him, and kissed him, lightly, on the forehead. "I kissed you like that, last night, when you were asleep," she said, with an odd, breathless, little catch in her voice.