as the plains of paradise. Had he but realized before how much he
loved her--what years of life had been wasted in leaving it all
unsaid! He came back from his reverie to find his hand wet with
her tears. He stroked her hair, and touched gently her eyelids
without speaking,

'You will let me come in to-morrow?' she pleaded; 'you won't keep
me out?'

'Ah, but, dear, you must remember your mother. She gets so
anxious, and every word the doctor says is law. How would you
like me to come again like this, perhaps?--like Santa Claus?'

'You know how I love having you,' she said, and stopped. 'But--but
...' He leaned closer. 'Yes, yes, come,' she said, clutching his
hand and hiding her eyes; 'it is only my dream--that horrible,
dwelling face in the dream; it frightened me so.'

Lawford rose very slowly from his knees. He could feel in the
dark his brows drawn down; there came a low, sullen beating on
his ear; he saw his face as it were in dim outline against the
dark. Rage and rebellion surged up in him; even his love could be
turned to bitterness. Well, two could play at any game! Alice
sprang up in bed and caught his sleeve. 'Dearest, dearest, you
must not be angry with me now!'

He flung himself down beside the bed. Anger, resentment died
away. 'You are all I have left,' he said.

He stole back, as he had come, in the clear dawn to his bedroom.