"My dear Lorraine, I'll do anything in my power for Stephanie," said Pendleton. "But I think that you are unduly apprehensive. She is not without friends--she has plenty of friends, and they are staunch friends. Gladys Chamberlain, Helen Burleston, Dorothy Tazewell, Marcia Emerson, Burgoyne, Devereux, Cameron--they all are for her. We have just come from spending the week-end at the Chamberlains. In a few months the Amherst episode will be forgotten, even by the Queen P's. Don't worry, old man, it will only retard your recovery. As for you and Stephanie, you two must work that out alone. But you can depend on us being for Stephanie _always_." He reached down and took Lorraine's hand. "You know that, don't you? We all will stand by her to the final call." "I thought _you_ would, Montague, and it's mighty good to know of Gladys and the rest. A woman can do much at such times." "And you mustn't think of it until you're out of this place," Pendleton urged. "Your business is to get well; we'll look after Stephanie, you may depend on it." He moved toward the door, and Miss Sayles appeared at the same moment. "Here is the nurse to send me away!" he smiled. "Good-bye--and we'll look for you at the Club in a week." "Good-bye, Pendleton, old man," said Lorraine faintly. He sank back among the pillows and closed his eyes. He could see it, though the other had tried hard to hide it. Pendleton had no interest whatever in him--he had forfeited all claims for sympathy by his vacillating course. All the men had lost patience with him. They might feel for him as a victim of bodily pain, and try to make it easy for him because thereof, but he knew--he _knew_. He had been a fool--he was still a fool maybe in trying to make it up with Stephanie--yet it was the only decent thing to do--the only thing he wanted to do. He made a gesture of despair--and the nurse came over and spoke to him. But he did not hear, or did not answer--and after a moment she went back and sat down. She understood in part. Everyone in town was aware of the Lorraines' troubles--and _she_ knew, also, of Stephanie's visit to her husband and how it had terminated.