‘But she wouldn’t understand it any more than Toots.’

’He doesn’t matter—­except to me.  I can’t keep my eyes open, thank God!  Good-night, lad.’

Conroy followed her with his eyes.  Beauty there was, grace there was, strength, and enough of the rest to drive better men than George Skinner to beat their heads on piano-tops—­but for the new-found life of him Conroy could not feel one flutter of instinct or emotion that turned to herward.  He put up his feet and fell asleep, dreaming of a joyous, normal world recovered—­with interest on arrears.  There were many things in it, but no one face of any one woman.

* * * * *

Thrice afterward they took the same train, and each time their trouble shrank and weakened.  Miss Henschil talked of Toots, his multiplied calls, the things he had said to his sisters, the much worse things his sisters had replied; of the late (he seemed very dead to them) M. Najdol’s gifts for the soul-weary; of shopping, of house rents, and the cost of really artistic furniture and linen.

Conroy explained the exercises in which he delighted—­mighty labours of play undertaken against other mighty men, till he sweated and, having bathed, slept.  He had visited his mother, too, in Hereford, and he talked something of her and of the home-life, which his body, cut out of all clean life for five years, innocently and deeply enjoyed.  Nurse Blaber was a little interested in Conroy’s mother, but, as a rule, she smoked her cigarette and read her paper-backed novels in her own compartment.

On their last trip she volunteered to sit with them, and buried herself in The Cloister and the Hearth while they whispered together.  On that occasion (it was near Salisbury) at two in the morning, when the Lier-in-Wait brushed them with his wing, it meant no more than that they should cease talk for the instant, and for the instant hold hands, as even utter strangers on the deep may do when their ship rolls underfoot.

‘But still,’ said Nurse Blaber, not looking up, ’I think your Mr. Skinner might feel jealous of all this.’

‘It would be difficult to explain,’ said Conroy.

‘Then you’d better not be at my wedding,’ Miss Henschil laughed.

’After all we’ve gone through, too.  But I suppose you ought to leave me out.  Is the day fixed?’ he cried.

’Twenty-second of September—­in spite of both his sisters.  I can risk it now.’  Her face was glorious as she flushed.

‘My dear chap!’ He shook hands unreservedly, and she gave back his grip without flinching.  ‘I can’t tell you how pleased I am!’

‘Gracious Heavens!’ said Nurse Blaber, in a new voice.  ’Oh, I beg your pardon.  I forgot I wasn’t paid to be surprised.’

‘What at?  Oh, I see!’ Miss Henschil explained to Conroy.  ’She expected you were going to kiss me, or I was going to kiss you, or something.’

‘After all you’ve gone through, as Mr. Conroy said,’