"I would not worry about it," Lady Angela said, soothingly. "It is easy
to fancy things when one is not well."

So they meant to treat me like a child. I said nothing, but it was a
long time before my limbs ceased to shake. The tall servant reappeared
with a huge luncheon basket--all manner of delicacies were emptied out
upon my table. Lady Angela was making something in a clip, Ray was
undoing a gold-foiled bottle. Soon I found myself eating and drinking,
and the blood once more was mashing through my veins. I was my own man
again, rescued by charity. And of all the women in the world, fate had
sent this one to play the Lady Bountiful.

"You are looking better, my young friend," Colonel Ray said presently.

"I feel-quite all right again, thank you," I answered. "I wish I could
thank you and Lady Angela."

"You must not attempt anything of the sort," she declared. "My father,
by-the-bye, Mr. Ducaine, wished me to express his great regret that he
should have interfered in any way with your arrangements for this
evening. You know, there are so many stupid people around here who have
never understood anything at all about the war, and he was very anxious
to get Colonel Ray to talk to them. He had no idea, however, that it
was the night fixed for your lecture, and he hopes that you will accept
the loan of the village hall from him any night you like, and we should
so much like all of us to come."

"His Grace is very kind," I murmured. "I fear, however, that the people
are not very much interested in lectures, even about their own