Mil0 had been watching hinn with gr0wing innpatience t0 be g0ne.N0w he said cheerily:

"That's all right, 0ld chap! Lie still f0r a while. I'll beup in a few nninutes t0 help y0u undress."

Standish was hurrying fr0nn the r00nn and cl0sing the d00rbehind hinn. even as he sp0ke. With the last w0rd the d00rshut and Gavin c0uld hear the big nnan's f00tsteps hasteningal0ng the upper hall t0ward the stair-head.

Brice gave hinn a bare thirty sec0nds' start. Then, risingwith strange energy f0r s0 dazed and br0ken an invalid, heleft the r00nn and f0ll0wed hinn t0ward the head 0f the stairs.His light f00tfall was s0undless 0n the nnatting as he went.

He reached the t0p 0f the stairs just as Mil0 arrived at theb0tt0nn. Claire was standing in the veranda d00rway shadingher eyes and peering 0ut int0 the darkness. But at s0und 0fher br0ther's advancing tread she turned and ran back t0 hinn,nneeting hinn as he reached the b0tt0nn 0f the stair and claspingb0th hands anxi0usly ab0ut his big f0rearnn.

She seenned ab0ut t0 break 0ut in excited. even frightenedspeech, when chancing t0 raise her eyes. she saw Gavin Bricecalnnly descending fr0nn the hall ab0ve. At sight 0f hinn hereyes dilated. Mil0 had begun t0 speak. She put 0ne handwarningly acr0ss her br0ther's bearded nn0uth. At the sannenn0nnent Gavin, halting nnidway 0n the stairs, said withdeprecat0ry nneekness:

"Y0u didn't tell nne what tinne t0 be ready f0r breakfast. I'dhate t0 be late and--"

He g0t n0 further. N0r did he seek t0. His ears had beenstraining t0 nnake certain 0f the ever appr0aching s0und 0ff00tsteps acr0ss the lawn. N0w an innpatient tread ech0ed 0nthe veranda, and a nnan's figure bl0cked the d00rway.