[Illustration:  “ROUGHSEDGE STOOD NEAR, RELUCTANTLY WAITING”]

But at the word “care” he pulled himself together.  He sat down beside her, and plunged straight into his declaration.  He went at it with the same resolute simplicity that he was accustomed to throw into his military duty, nor could she stop him in the least.  His unalterable affection; his changed and improved prospects; a staff appointment at home if she accepted him; the Nigerian post if she refused him—­these things he put before her in the natural manly speech of a young Englishman sorely in love, yet quite incapable of “high flights,” It was very evident that he had pondered what he was to say through the days and nights of his exile; that he was doing precisely what he had always planned to do, and with his whole heart in the business.  She tried once or twice to interrupt him, but he did not mean to be interrupted, and she was forced to hear it out.

At the end she gave a little gasp.

“Oh, Hugh!” His name, given him for the first time, fell so forlornly—­it was such a breathing out of trouble and pity and despair—­that his heart took another and a final plunge downward.  He had known all through that there was no hope for him; this tone, this aspect settled it.  But she stretched out her hands to him, tenderly—­appealing.  “Hugh—­I shall have to tell you—­but I am ashamed.”

He looked at her in silence a moment, then asked her why.  The tears rose brimming in her eyes—­her hands still in his.

“Hugh—­I—­I—­have always loved Oliver Marsham—­and I—­cannot think of any one else.  You know what has happened?”

He saw the sob swelling in her white throat.

“Yes!” he said, passionately.  “It is horrible.  But you cannot go to him—­you cannot marry him.  He was a coward when he should have stood by you.  He cannot claim you now.”

She withdrew her hands.

“No!” The passion in her voice matched his own.  “But I would give the world if he could—­and would!”

There was a pause.  Steadily the woman gained upon her own weakness and beat it down.  She resumed: 

“I must tell you—­because—­it is the only way—­for us two—­to be real friends again—­and I want a friend so much.  The news of Oliver is—­is terrible.  The Vicar had just seen Mr. Lankester—­who is staying there.  He is nearly blind—­and the pain!” Her hand clinched—­she threw her head back.  “Oh!  I can’t speak of it!  And it may go on for years.  The doctors seem to be all at sea.  They say he ought to recover—­but they doubt whether he will.  He has lost all heart—­and hope—­he can’t help himself.  He lies there like a log all day—­despairing.  And, please—­what am I doing here?” She turned upon him impetuously, her cheeks flaming.  “They want help—­there is no one.  Mrs. Fotheringham hardly ever comes.  They think Lady Lucy is in a critical state of health too.  She won’t admit it—­she does everything as usual.  But she is very frail and ill, and it depresses Oliver.  And I am here!—­useless—­and helpless.  Oh, why can’t I go?—­why can’t I go?” She laid her face upon her arms, on the bench, hiding it from him; but he saw the convulsion of her whole frame.