"Yes, stay, Gerald!" she whispered earnestly. "I want you."

* * *

Perhaps he understood her better than she thought. Perhaps Charlie's
last words to him had taught him a wisdom to which he had not otherwise
attained. Or perhaps his love was large enough to cover and hide all
that might be lacking in that which she offered to him.

But at least neither then nor later did he ever seek to know how deeply
the glamour of another man's heroism had pierced her heart. She tried to
whisper an explanation, but he hushed the words unuttered.

"It is all right, child," he said. "I am satisfied. It is only the
lookers-on who are allowed to see all the cards. I think when we meet
him again he will tell us that we played them right."

There was a deep quiver in his voice as he spoke, but there was no lack
of confidence in his words. Looking upwards, Molly saw that his eyes
were full of tears.




* * * * *


THE SECOND FIDDLE