'What was the matter?'

'I had overdone it. I had overworked myself. I had let myself run
down. The doctor said that I didn't eat enough meat. You know I never
did care for meat.'

'I remember.'

'When I got better I was ordered to the seaside, then I went on a
visit to some friends and didn't get back to Sutton till Christmas. We
had a lot of stupid people staying with us. I couldn't do any work
while they were in the house. When they left I began a picture, but I
tried too difficult subjects and got into trouble with my drawing. You
said I'd never succeed. I often thought of what you said. Well, then,
I went to the National. Nellie Brand told me you were ill, that you
had been ill for some time, at least a month.'

A thin smile curled Ralph's red lips and his eyes seemed to grow more
wistful. 'I've been ill more than a month,' he said. 'But no matter,
Nellie Brand told you and---'

'Of course I could not stay at the National. I felt I must see you. I
didn't know how. ... My feet turned towards St. James' Park. I stood
on the little bridge thinking. You know I was very fond of you, Ralph,
only it was in my way and you weren't satisfied.' She looked at him
sideways, so that her bright brown eyes might have all their charm;
his pale eyes, wistful and dying, were fixed on her, not intently as a
few moments before, but vaguely, and the thought stirred in her that
he might die before her eyes. In that case what was she to do? 'Are