Drake leaned against the rails in the sunlight, softly striking his riding whip against his leg. His horse's bridle was hitched over the gate, and as he waited for Dick he thought of the time when the bridle had been hitched over another gate. He heard a step lighter than Dick's on the stairs behind him, and slowly turned his head. The sun was streaming through the doorway, so that the slim, graceful figure and lovely face were set as in an aureole. A thrill ran through him, the color rose to his bronzed face, and he stood motionless and speechless for a moment; then he raised his hat. "How is Mr. Falconer?" he asked. He had not seen her since the night of the burglary, the night he had held her in his arms, and the blunt question sounded like a mockery set against the aching longing of his heart. "He is better," she said. Her eyes rested on him calmly, and she spoke quite steadily, so that he did not guess that her heart was beating wildly, and that she had to clench the hand beside her in her effort to maintain her composure. "I am glad," he said simply. "It has been an anxious time--must be so still--for you, I am afraid." "Yes," she said. He stood looking at her, and then away from her, and then at her again, as if his eyes must return to her against his will. "I--I am glad to see you. I wanted to tell you--to thank you for what you did for me the other night. You know that I owe you my life?" She shook her head and forced a smile. "Isn't that rather an--exaggeration, Lord Angleford?" He bit his lip at the "Lord Angleford." And yet how else could she address him? "No," he said; "it is the simple truth. The man would have shot me." "Then I am glad," she said quietly, as if there were no more to be said. He bit his lip again. "You are looking pale and thin." "Oh, no," she said. "I am quite well." Why did he not go? Every moment it became more difficult for her to maintain her forced calm. If he would only go! But he stood, his eyes now downcast, now seeking hers, his brows knit, as if he found it awful to remain, and yet impossible to go. "Will you tell Mr. Falconer that directly he is able to go out I will send a carriage for him--a pony phaeton, or something of that sort?" he said, at last. Nell inclined her head. "We will leave here as soon as he can be moved," she said. His frown deepened. "Why?" he asked sharply. "Why should you?" The blood began to mount to her face, and, gnawing at his mustache, he turned away. But as he did so Dick came down the stairs, two at a time. "Hi, Drake!" he called out. "Don't go. Falconer would like to see you!" Drake hesitated just for a second--then---- "I shall be very glad," he said. Nell moved aside to let him pass, and went into the sitting room, and he followed Dick upstairs. She went to the window, and stood looking out for a moment or two, then she caught up her hat and left the house, for she knew that she could not see him again--ah! not just yet.