Denis turned to Nell; he put his hand on her shoulder, marched her out of the room, and into the Stronghold. Molly was there, frightened and sleepy. "She’s all right now. Fast asleep. Go to bed, old girl." "It’s been such a horrid day—is she really better?" "Yes. I hope she’ll be all right to-morrow. Scoot." Molly went yawning out of the room. They stood a minute, looking into the fire. Then Nell said:— "Denis, don’t you think—it will make it worse—for her—after?" He answered without any hesitation:— "There wasn’t any worse then." She dropped tiredly into a chair. "No," she said. He seized the poker, and began hammering at a lump of coal. "I suppose the money—" she worried. "Can’t be helped! Nell, I _couldn’t_ do anything else! I—I couldn’t stand it!" They were silent a little while. Presently he said:— "I don’t believe she’ll go. If I know the Atom when she’s calm and all right, she’ll stick to her guns. If she doesn’t—if she still wants to go—I take her. The coming back—having it all over again—will be awful for her, but there was nothing else to do." "No," she agreed. *CHAPTER XXX* "Good morning, Atom." Nell bent caressingly over the bed, and laid her hand lightly on a cool little brow. "Good mornin’, Nell." "You’re better, asthore, you’re better." There was a gay lilt to her voice that told her relief, her joy, more plainly than her words. "Yes," the Atom said. "Will I get up now, Nell?" "Oh, no, dear, you must wait till Dr. Everton has been. Do you ache anywhere now?" "Only a little." Nell looked down into the sombre eyes, then turned away. Sheila Pat lay stiff and still, her small face frowning a little, solemn, mournful. When Denis came cheerily in, she looked at him quickly, nervously, and her face flushed a little. "Well, invalidish Atom, you’ll soon be up and worrying me again, won’t you?" "Good mornin’, Denis." "Pardon. Good morning. Aren’t you going to give me a kiss?" She turned her face to his languidly. He looked at Nell and raised his eyebrows. Then he sat down on the bed and talked. Sheila Pat lay very quiet and answered monosyllabically. "You’re very unkind to me, Atom, you know." She gave him another odd little glance, and her face grew scarlet. "I—I’m thinkin’," she stammered. "—I’m not unkind—" "Of course you’re not! I was joking. I must be off now. Good-bye." "Good-bye." When he had gone, she lifted her head. "Nell, when is Dr. Everton comin’?" "Any moment." "Nell—" "Yes, dear?" "I—I wish to speak to him—alone, please." For a moment Nell looked startled. "There isn’t anything—you don’t mean there’s some pain you haven’t told us of?" "No. I’m quite well now." "Very well. You shall, dear." "Thank you." Molly tiptoed into the room, knocked a photograph off the mantle shelf, bade the Atom a loudly whispered good morning, stood on one leg, then on the other, and tiptoed out again. "Nell, isn’t Dr. Everton here yet?"