about, and which was what her medical adviser had
mainly thrown her back on. " Oh, it's all right.
He's lovely."

Kate was splendid, and it would have been clear
for Milly now, had the further presumption been
needed, that she had said no word to Mrs. String-
ham. You mean you ve been absurd?"

"Absurd." It was a simple word to say, but the
consequence of it, for our young woman, was that
she felt it, as soon as spoken, to have done something
for her safety.

And Kate really hung on her lips. " There's
nothing at all the matter?"

"Nothing to worry about. I shall take a little
watching, but I shan't have to do anything dreadful,
or even, in the least, inconvenient. I can do in fact
as I like." It was wonderful for Milly how just to
put it so made all its pieces fall at present quite prop
erly into places.

Yet even before the full effect came Kate had
seized, kissed, blessed her. " My love, you re too
sweet! It's too dear! But it's as I was sure."
Then she grasped the full beauty. " You can do as
you like?"

"Quite, Isn't it charming?"

"Ah, but catch you," Kate triumphed with gaiety,
"not doing! And what shall you do?"

"For the moment simply enjoy it. Enjoy"
Milly was completely luminous " having got out of
my scrape."

[[283]]

p282 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p283w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p284

v?