"I hope you are better to-day," she said presently, the rapid pen still gliding over the paper, the graceful head still bending over the desk. There is nothing so charming as the air of indifference with which a woman inquires about the health of the man she loves; but the indifference is generally a little overdone. "I was not ill yesterday," answered Hector. "There are some things more painful to endure than illness. Lady Cecil, will you do me a favour? I want your advice about a friend of mine, who finds himself in one of the most cruel positions that ever a man was placed in. Are those letters very important?" "Not at all important." "In that case I may ask you to put on your hat and come with me for a stroll--you have no idea how lovely the sea looks this morning--and you can give me your advice about my friend." "I don't think I have had enough experience of life to be a good adviser." "But you are a lady, and you have a lady's subtile instincts where honour is at stake; and this is a case in which experience of life is not wanted." Cecil put aside her writing materials and took her hat from the sofa, where it had been lying. They went out together silently, and walked silently towards the water's edge. The wavelets curled crisply in the fresh autumn breeze, and the sunlit sea rippled as gaily as if the blue waters had bounded beneath the dancing tread of invisible sea-nymphs. "I shall think of this cool, fresh English sea-shore very often when I am in Bengal," Hector said. "You will go back to Bengal--soon?" "Yes, I think very soon. My leave does not expire for some months: but as I came home on a doctor's certificate, and as the sea-air I got between Calcutta and Suez set me up before I reached home, I have no excuse for remaining away from my regiment much longer. I shall be glad to see all the dear old fellows again;--and--and--a man is always happiest when he is doing his duty." "You speak as if you knew what it was to be unhappy," said Cecil; "and yet you must remember telling us, one day when you first came here, that you had never known any serious sorrow in your life." "Did I say so? Ah! but then that was so long ago." "So long ago! about five weeks, I believe."