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Returning houed but jubilant, at two o'clock, he applied himself to his lunch; and then attacked his afternoon's ith an energy engendered by the excellent results of the operation which he, in co delayed on various pretexts, it was five o'clock before he found hi the bell rather hastily, with an absurd feeling that the servants would look reproachfully on his tardy arrival

The man seeht; and when, a second later, the queerly named Tochatti arrived, her face wrinkled into a discreet smile

"Mrs Carstairs up to-day?"

"She is in her room, sir Will you come up, if you please?"

He followed her up the broad, shallow stairs, which this afternoon she took at a more moderate pace; and then she ushered hi back so that he went in alone

Mrs Carstairs was lying on a deep couch by one of the open s, her white gown set off by vivid blue cushions; and as he advanced Anstice noticed that she looked even younger than he had judged her on the preceding night Her air of utter exhaustion had vanished; and there was h her cheeks still retained their ivory transparency

By her side was a little table bearing a tea-tray, and as Anstice shook hands, congratulating her at the same time on her restored appearance, she drew his attention to the teacups

"I was just going to have some tea Be nice and have some with me Will you?"

"Thanks very much" He accepted promptly "I've been busy all day and should enjoy a cup of tea But first--are you really better this afternoon?"

"Yes, really" She spoke indifferently, as though the subject failed to interest her "I should have gone out, I daresay, but I felt tired, or lazy, and succuhtful couch"

"You did quite right" He took the cup she held out to him and sat down in a chair beside the deep Chesterfield "You know I think you must make up your mind to take care of yourself for a week or two"

"I can quite easily do that," Chloe Carstairs answered quietly "I hardly think I shall find it difficult to do what the neo one's own life'--down here"