AT THE MAID'S GARTER Betty was confined to her room during the greater part of the next month, and Frances visited her frequently.

Notwithstanding my vows not to see Betty, I was compelled to go with Frances as her body-guard.

I even went so far in my feeble effort to keep my resolution as to suggest Churchill as a body-guard, but Frances objected, and the quality of my good intent was not enduring.

So I went with my cousin, and the joy in Betty's eyes whenever we entered her room was not the sort that would come because she was glad to see Frances.
* * * * * During the first week of Bettina's illness she was too sick to talk, therefore we did not remain long with her.

But as she grew better our visits lengthened, and my poor resolutions grew weaker day by day because my love for the girl was growing stronger and stronger hour by hour.
On one occasion while Frances's back was turned, Betty impulsively snatched up my hand and kissed it, dropping it instantly, blushing intensely and covering her tracks by humming the refrain of a French lullaby.