His chair was rickety, one of the legs being much in need of repair; the driftwood fire that burned brightly about two feet away grilled his spine, for no screen was available, and he nearly choked himself with a piece of very hot and hard potato.

Yet to tell the truth never before did he share in such a delightful meal.

For soon, when the clamour of "the girls" swelled loud and long, and the attention of Mr.and Mrs.Walrond was entirely occupied with the burnt beef and the large duck that absolutely refused to part with its limbs, he found himself almost as much alone with Barbara as though they had been together on the wide seashore.
"You are really getting quite well ?" he asked.
"Yes, I think so." Then, after a pause and with a glance from the violet eyes, "Are you glad ?" "You know I am glad.

You know that if you had--died, I should have died too." "Nonsense," said the curved lips, but they trembled and the violet eyes were a-swim with tears.

Then a little catch of the throat, and, almost in a whisper, "Anthony, father told me about you and the window-blind and--oh! I don't know how to thank you.