to see him."

Evelyn started. "Why do you call him that?"

"Because he said he was a fairy, and would have to vanish soon. But
you'll beg him not to, won't you?"

"I--I should be sorry to lose him again. We haven't many friends, in
these days." The bright head was bowed over the child's, as Rosemary
clung to her mother's dress.

"You never lost me," said Hugh Egerton. "It was I who lost you. Evie,
you don't know what black years these have been. I loved you so."

"But that--was--long ago."

"It was always."

"Hugh! I thought you must have learned to hate me."

"Hate you, because I couldn't make you care for me as--I hoped you
would, and because you cared for someone else? No, I--"

"But--I did care for you. It was for my father's sake that--that--ah, I
can't talk of it, Hugh. You know, we were so poor after father lost his
money, I tried with all my heart to forget, and to do my best for--my
husband. Perhaps it was my punishment that he--oh, Hugh, I was so
miserable. And then--then he went away. He was tired of me. He was on a
yacht, and there was a great storm. But you must have read in the
papers--"