I won't ask you another question, but I'm ready to hear whenever you want to tell me." He looked at her with haggard eyes, but did not answer.

Then she drew him out into the fresh coolness of the garden, and tried to bring some brightness into his face by talking of small household happenings, and how she had missed him during his two weeks' absence, and what plans she had for the next week.

But no smile touched his white lips, or banished the absent look in his eyes.

After tea, during which his silence had not been broken, he turned to go into his study.
"Oh, you are not going to work to-night ?" Helen cried.

"Don't leave me alone again!" He looked at her with sudden wistfulness.