’Indeed, I trust so, now that his education is secured.  It is another load off my mind,’ said Kalliope, with a smile of exceeding sweetness and gratitude, her hands clasped, and her eyes raised for a moment in higher thankfulness,—–­a look that so enhanced her beauty that Mr. White gazed for a moment in wonder.  The next moment, however, the dark eyes turned on him with a little anxiety, and she said—–­

’One thing more, sir.  Perhaps you will be so kind as to relieve my mind again.  That notice of dismissal at the quarter’s end.  Was it not in some degree from a mistake?’

‘An utter mistake, my dear,’ he said hastily.  ’Never trouble your head about it.’

‘Then it does not hold?’

‘Certainly not.’

‘And I may go back to my office as soon as I am well enough?’

‘Is that your wish?’

’Yes, sir.  I love my work and my assistants, and I think I could do better if a little more scope could be allowed me.’

’Very well, we will see about that—–­you have to get well first of all.’

’I am so much better that I ought to go home.  Mr. Lee is quite ready for me.’

Nonsense!  You must be much stronger before Dagger would hear of your going.’

After this Mr. White came to sit with Kalliope for a time in the course of each day, bringing with him something that would interest her, and seeming gratified by her responsiveness, quiet as it was, for she was still very feeble, and exertion caused a failure of breath and fluttering of heart that were so distressing that ten days more passed before she was brought downstairs and drawn out in the garden in a chair, where she could sit on the sheltered terrace enjoying the delicious spring air and soft sea-breezes, sometimes alone, sometimes with the company of one friend or another.  Gillian and Aunt Jane had, with the full connivance of Mr. White, arranged a temporary entrance from one garden to the other for the convenience of attending to Kalliope, and here one afternoon Miss Mohun was coming in when she heard through the laurels two voices speaking to the girl.  As she moved forward she saw they were the elder and younger Stebbings, and that Kalliope had risen to her feet, and was leaning on the back of her chair.  While she was considering whether to advance Kalliope heard her, and called in a breathless voice, ‘Miss Mohun! oh, Miss Mohun, come!’

‘Miss Mohun!  You will do us the justice—–­’ began Mr. Stebbing, speaking more to her indignant face and gesture than to any words.

‘Miss White is not well,’ she said.  ’You had better leave her to me.’

And as they withdrew through the house, Kalliope sank back in her chair in one of those alarming attacks of deadly faintness that had been averted for many days past.  Happily an electric bell was always at hand, and the housekeeper knew what remedies to bring.  Kalliope did not attempt a word for many long minutes, though the colour came back gradually to her lips.  Her first words were,