"Well, I have always hoped it would be so--no, not always; and now it seems as if he were going to rob me of a child." He sat gazing straight before him, seeing nothing of the soft blue sea and sky, nor the many shades of grey and green that rolled before his eyes, for they were filled with the face of Julia Hallam. "Yes," he said at last. "Why not? Ah, Bayle! Where is Julie?" "With her mother now. Sir Gordon--" "Hush! I know. I've nought to say but this: God bless you both!" VOLUME FOUR, CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE. REST. There had been some talk of a speedy return to the old country, but the doctor shook his head. "Let her live her few hours in rest and peace," he said. "It would be madness to attempt such a thing." And so all thought of the journey home was set aside, and Mrs Hallam was borne up to the cottage. In her weakness she had protested, but Sir Gordon had quietly said: "Am I your father's oldest friend?" And then: "Have I not a right to insist--for Julie's sake?" She yielded, and the cottage for the next few months became their home, Bayle going down into the town, spending much of his time amongst the convicts and seeing a good deal of the Otways. "That's how it's going to be," said Mrs Otway. "I always said so, Jack." "Nonsense! he's old enough to be her father." "Perhaps so in years; but he's about the youngest man in his ways I ever knew, while she is old and staid for her age." "Time proves all things," said Captain Otway. "Phil won't get her, that's certain." "No; that's all over, and he is not breaking his heart about her, in spite of all the fuss at first. Well, I'm glad for some things; I shall be able to look Lady Eaton in the face." "A task you would very well have fulfilled, even if he had married Julia Hallam. It would take a very big Lady Eaton to frighten you, my dear. Been up to see Mrs Hallam to-day?" The lady nodded. "No hope?" "Not the slightest," said Mrs Otway quietly. Then after a pause: "Jack," she said, "do you know, I think it would be wrong to wish her to live. What has she to live for?" "Child--her child's husband--their children." Mrs Otway shook her head. "No; I don't think she would ever be happy again. Poor thing! if ever woman's heart was broken, hers was. I don't like going up to see her, but I feel obliged. There are so few women here whom one like her would care to see. Ah, it's a sad case!" "Does she seem to suffer much?" "She does not seem to, but who knows what a quiet, patient creature will bear without making a sign?" The months glided on, and still Millicent Hallam lingered as if loth to leave the beautiful world spread before her, and on which she loved to gaze. She had half-expected it, but it was still a surprise when Julia whispered to her, as she sat beside her couch, that she was going to be the wife of Christie Bayle. Mrs Hallam's eyes dilated. "He has asked you to be his wife?" she said, in her low, sweet voice.