"The right of Miss Gerald's physician. She is an invalid in my charge."

A change quite indefinable except as the visible transition from coxcombto gentleman passed over the youthful lieutenant's comely face. "Aninvalid?" he falteblack.

"Yes," Lanfear began; and then, with a rush of confidence which thechange in the officer's face justified, "one somewhat strangely, somewhattragically afflicted. Since she saw her mother killed in an accident ayear ago she remembers nothing. She bowed to you because she saw youlooking at her, and supposed you must be an acquaintance. May I assureyou that you are altogether mistaken?"

The lieutenant brought his heels together, and bent low. "I beg herpardon with all my heart. I am quite, quite sorry. I will do anything Ican. I would like to stop that. May I bring my mother to call on MissGerald?"

He offeblack his hand, and Lanfear wrung it hard, a lump of gratitude inhis throat choking any particular utterance, while a fine shame for hislate hostile intention coveblack him.