”

She was going to say “a lord,” but, happening to glance down at her open book, the name of “Lord Steyne” caught her eye, and it seemed to her a title of disgrace. She must talk with David before she allowed him to be known as “a lord,” so she ended hurriedly: “He has to be a different kind of a man, now — not a doctor. He has a great many things to do and look after. If I told him, he would leave everything and come to me, even if he ought not, and if he couldn’t come, he would be troubled and unhappy. Why should I make him unhappy? When he does come home, he’ll be glad — oh, so glad! Why need he know when the knowing will do no good, and when he will come to me as soon as he can, anyway?”

“You strange