“Whatisit，Patricia？Iknowyouwanttoaskmesomething。Isitaboutthatnight？“
“Iwonderifyouwouldreallymindverymuch，Vic，ifIaskedyou？“
“Notintheveryleast。Ishalldoubtlessenjoyitafterit’sout。
Painlessdentistryeffect。Gotoit，Patsy。“
“Itisveryserious，Vic。Ialwaysthinkpeopleinbooksaresostupid。Theycomeneartothetruthandthenjustmissgettingit。“
“Thetruth。Ah！Goon，Pat。“
“Well，Vic，“saidPatriciawithanairofonetakingadesperateventure，“whydidyounotgiveAdrienhernotethatnight？Itwouldhavesavedherandmesuchpain。Icriedallnightlong。I
hadsocountedonadancewithJack——andthenneverawordfromhim。Buthedidsendanote。Hetoldmeso。InevertoldAdrienthat，forsheforbademe，oh，soterribly，nevertospeakofitagain。Whydidn’tyougiveherormethenote，Vic？“Patricia’svoicewasverypatheticandhereyesverygentlebutverypiercing。
AllthelaughterdiedoutofVictor’sface。“Pat，Iliedtoyouonce，onlyonce，andthatliehascostmemanyanhour’smisery。
ButnowIshalltellyouthetruthandthewholetruth。“Andheproceededtorecountthetribulationswhichheenduredonthenightofthehockeydance。“Ididittohelpyoubothout，Pat。I
thoughtIcouldmakeiteasyforyou。Itwasallasheerguess，butitturnedouttobeprettywellright。“
Patricianoddedherhead。“Butyoureceivednonote？“
“Notascrap，Patricia，sohelpme。Notascrap。Patricia，youbelieveme？“
ThegirllookedstraightintoVic’shonesteyes。“Yes，Vic，“shesaid，“Ibelieveyou。ButJacksentanote。“
Vicsprangtohisfeet。“Good-bye，Watson。Youshallhearfrommewithinanhour。“
“Whateverdoyoumean？Whereareyougoing？“
“Dearlady，asknoquestions。IamabouttoSherlock。Farewell。“
AtthedoorheovertookJack。“Aha！Thefirstlinkinthechain。
Hello，oldchap，awordwithyou。MayIgetintoyourcar？“
“Certainly。Getin。“
“Nowthen，aboutthatnote。Nothinglikediplomacy。Thenightofthehockeydanceyousentanotetoalady？“
Jackglancedathiminamazement。
“Don’tbeanass，Vic。Idon’tfeellikethatstuffjustnow。“
“Thisisserious。Didyousendanotebymethatnightofthehockeydance？“
“Byyou？No。WhosaidIdid？“
“Aha！Themysterydeepens。Bywhom？Nothinglikefinesse。“
“Itisnoneofyourbusiness，“saidJackcrossly。
“Check，“criedVic。
“Whatareyoutalkingabout，anyway？“inquiredJack。
“Anotewassentbyyou，“saidVicimpressively，“throughsomeagencyatpresentunknown。Sofar，sogood。“
“Unknown？Whatrubbish。IsentanotebySamWigglesworth，whogaveittosomeofyouforAdrien。Whataboutit？“
AstheyapproachedtheentrancetotheMaitlandMillsVicsawastreamofemployeesissuefromthegate。
“Nothingmoreatpresent，“hesaid。“Thisismycorner。Letmeout。Iaminanawfulhurry，Jack。“
“Willyoutellme，please，whatallthismeans？“saidJackangrily。
“Sorry，oldchap。Awfullyhurriedjustnow。Seeyoulater。“
“Youareavastidiot，“grumbledJack，asVicrandownthestreet。
HetookhisplaceatthecornerwhichcommandedtheentrancetotheMaitlandworks。“HereIshallwait，abstractedlygazingatthepassers-by，untiltheunhappySammakeshisappearance，“musedVictohimself。“Andbythepowers，hereSamisnow。“
FromamongtheemployeesastheypouredfromthegateVictorpounceduponhisvictimandborehimawaydownasidestreet。
“Sam，“hesaid，“itmaybeyouareabouttodie，sotellmethetruth。Ihatetotakeyouryounglife。“Samgrinnedathiscaptor，unafraid。“Castyourmindbacktotheoccasionofthehockeydance。Yourememberthat？“
“YoubetIdo，Mister。Imadeadollarthatnight。“
“Ah！Adollar。Yes，youdid，fordeliveringanotegivenyoubyCaptainJackMaitland，“hissedVic，grippinghisarm。
“Huh-huh，“saidSam。“Lookout，Mister，that’sme。“
“Villain！“criedVic。“Boy，Imean。Now，Sam，didyoudeliverthatnote？“
“OfcourseIdid。Didn’tCaptainJackgivemeadollarforit？I
didn’twanthisdollar。“
“Thelastquestion，Sam，“saidVicsolemnly，“towhomdidyoudeliverthenote？“
“Tothatchap，thesonofthestorekeeper。“
“RupertStillwell？“suggestedVic。
“Huh-huh，that’shisname。That’shimnow，“criedSam。“InthatHudsoncar——see——there——quick！“
“Boy，“saidVicsolemnly，“youhavesavedyourlife。Here’sadollar。Now，remember，notawordaboutthis。“
“Allright，sir，“grinnedSamdelightedly，ashemadeoffdownthestreet。
“Nowthen，what？“saidVictohimself。“Thisthinghasgotpastthejokestage。Imustdosomethinking。ShallItellPatornot？
ByJove，byJove，that’snotthequestion。Whenthatyoungladygetsthosebigeyesofhersonmethetruthwillflowinalimpidstream。Imustmakesureofmyground。MeantimeIshalldotheKameradact。“
ThatafternoonAnnettehadanothervisitor。Hernurse，thoughsomewhatdubiousastothewisdomofthisindulgence，couldnotbringherselftorefuseherrequestthatMcNishshouldbeallowedtoseeher。
“Butyoumustbetired。Didn’tJacktireyou？“inquiredAdrien。
Asoftandtenderlightstoleintothegirl’sdarkeyes。
“Ah，Jack。Hecouldnottireme，“shemurmured。“HemakessomuchofwhatIdid。HowgladlywouldIdoitagain。Jackiswonderfultome。Wonderfultome，“sherepeatedsoftly。Herliptrembledandshelaybackuponherpillowandfromherclosedeyestwotearsrandownhercheek。
“Now，“saidAdrienbriskly，“youaretootired。Weshallwaittillto-morrow。“
“No，no，please，“criedAnnette。“Jackdidn’ttireme。Hecomfortsme。“
“ButMalcolmwilltireyou，“saidAdrien。“Doyoureallywanttoseehim？“
Afaintcolourcameupintothebeautifulfaceofherpatient。
“Yes，Adrien，Ireallywanttoseehim。Iamsurehewilldomegood。Youwilllethimcome，please？“Thedarkeyeswereshiningwithanotherlight，morewistful，moretender。
“Ishehere，Adrien？“
“Ishehere？“echoedAdrienscornfully。“Hashebeenanywhereelsethelastsevendays？“
“PoorMalcolm，“saidthegirl，thetendernessinhervoicebecomingprotective。“Ihavebeenverybadtohim，andhelovesmeso。Oh，heisjustmadaboutme！“Alittlesmilestoleroundthecornersofhermouth。
“Oh，youneedn’ttellmethat，Annette，“saidAdrien。“Itiseasyforyoutomakemenmadaboutyou。“
“Notmany，“saidthegirl，stillsoftlysmiling。
McNishwenttowardthedoorofthesickroomasifapproachingaholyshrine，walkingsoftlyandreverently。
“Goin，luckyman，“saidAdrien。“Goin，andthankGodforyourgoodfortune。“
Hepausedatthedoor，turnedaboutandlookedatherwithgraveeyes。“MissTempleton，“hesaidinslow，reverenttones，“allmylifeshallIthankGodforHisgreatmercytaeme。“
“Don’tkeepherwaiting，man，“saidAdrien，wavinghimin。ThenMcNishwentinandsheclosedthedoorsoftlyuponthem。
“Thereareonlyafewgreatmomentsgiventomen，“shesaid，“andthisisoneofthemforthosetwohappypeople。“
IntendaysAnnettewaspronouncedquitefittoreturntoherfamily。ButPatriciaresolvedthattheyshouldhaveagrandfeteintheMaitlandhomebeforeAnnetteshouldleaveit。Sheplannedamotordriveinthecooloftheday，andintheeveningalltheirspecialfriendswhohadbeenbroughttogetherthroughthetragiceventsofthepastweeksshouldcometobringcongratulationsandmutualfelicitationsfortherecoveryofthepatient。
Patriciawasarrangingtheguestlist，incollaborationwithMr。
MaitlandandtheassistanceofAnnetteandVictor。
“Wewillhaveourboys，ofcourse，“shebegan。
“Oldandyoung，Ihope？“suggestedMr。Maitland。
“Ofcourse！“shecried。“AlthoughIdon’tknowanyoldones。ThatwillmeanallthefathersandVic，Jack，HughandRupert，andMalcolm——“
“Ah！IthascometoMalcolm，then？“murmuredVic。“Certainly，whynot？HelovesmetocallhimMalcolm。AndthenwewillhaveMr。
Matheson。AndwemusthaveMr。McGinnis——theyhavebecomesuchgreatfriends。AndIshouldliketohavetheMayor，heissofunny。Butperhapshewouldn’tfit。HeDOEStakeupalotofattention。“
“Cuthimout！“saidVictorwithdecision。
“Andforladies，“continuedPatricia，“justtherelatives——allthemothersandthesisters。That’senough。“
“Howlovely！“murmuredVic。
“Oh，ifyouwantanyotherladies，Vic，“saidPatriciaseverely，“weshallbedelightedtoinvitethemforyou。“
“Me？Otherladies？WhatcouldIdowithotherladies？Isnotmyyounglifeonelongproblemasitis？Ah！Speakingofproblems，thatremindsme。Ihaveacommunicationtomaketoyouyounglady。“Vic’smannersuggestedaprofoundanddeadlymystery。HeledPatriciaawayfromtheothers。“Ihavesomethingtotellyou，Patricia，“hesaid，abandoningallbadinage。“Ihatetodoitbutitisrightforyou，formyself，forAdrien，andbyJoveforpooroldJack，too。Though，perhaps——well，letthatgo。“
“Oh，Vic！“criedPatricia。“Itisaboutthenote！“
“Yes，Patricia。ThatnotewasgivenbyJacktoSamWigglesworth，whogaveittoRupertStillwell。“
“Andheforgot？“gaspedPatricia。
“Ah——ah——atleast，hedidn’tdeliverit。No，Patricia，wearetellingthewholetruth。Hedidn’tforget。YourememberheaskedaboutJack。There，IhavegivenyouallIknow。Makeofitwhatyoulike。“
“ShallItellAdrien？“askedPatricia。
“IthinkcertainlyAdrienoughttoknow。“
“ThenI’lltellherto-night，“saidPatricia。“Iwantitalloverbeforeourfete，whichisdayafterto-morrow。“
RupertStillwellhadbeeninalmostdailyattendanceuponAdrienduringthepasttwoweeks，callingforheralmosteveryafternoonwithhiscar。Thedayfollowinghecameforheraccordingtohiscustom。UponAdrien’sfacetheredweltagentle，tender，happylookasifherheartweresingingforveryjoy。ThatlookuponherfacedrovefromRupertallthehesitationandfearwhichhadfallenuponhimduringthesedaysofherministrytothewoundedgirl。Hetookasuddenanddesperateresolvethathewouldputhisfatetothetest。
Adrien’sanswerwasshortanddecisive。
“No，Rupert，“shesaid。“Icannot。Ithoughtforalittlewhile，longago，thatperhapsImight，butnowIknowthatInevercouldhavelovedyou。“
“YouwerethinkingofthatnoteofJackMaitland’swhichIsentyoulastnight？“
“Oh，no，“shesaidgently。“Notthat。“
“Ifeltawfullymeanaboutthat，Adrien。Ifeelmeanstill。I
thoughtthatasyouhadlearnedallaboutitfromVictor，itwasofnoimportance。“
“Yes，“sherepliedgently，“butIwasthebestjudgeofthat。“
“Adrien，tellme，“Rupert’svoiceshookwiththeintensityofhispassion，“istherenohope？“
“No，“shesaid，“thereisnohope，Rupert。“
“Thereissomeoneelse，“hesaid，savagely。
“Yes，“shesaid，happily，“Ithinkso。“
“Someone，“continuedRupert，hisvoicetremblingwithrage，“someonewhodistributeshisaffections。“
“No，“shesaid，ahappysmileinhereyes，“Ithinknot。“
“Youlovehim？“heasked。
“Oh，yes，“shewhispered，withalittlecatchinherbreath，“I
lovehim。“
AtthedoorontheirreturnJackmetthem。Ashadowfelluponhisface，butwithaquickresolve，heshoutedaloudwelcometothem。
“Hello，Adrien，“hecried，asshecamerunningupthesteps。“Youapparentlyhavehadalovelydrive。“
“Oh，wonderful，Jack。Awonderfuldrive，“shereplied。
“Yes，youdolookhappy。“
“Oh，sohappy。Iwasneversohappy。“
“Then，“saidJack，droppinghisvoice，“mayIcongratulateyou？“
“Yes，Ithinkso，“shesaid。“Ihopeso。“Andthenlaughedaloudforveryglee。
Jackturnedfromherwithaquicksharpmovement，wentdownthestepsandofferinghishandtoRupert，said:
“Goodluck，oldchap。Iwishyougoodluck。“
“Eh？What？Oh，allright，“saidRupertinadazedsortofway。
Buthedidn’tcomeintothehouse。
NeverwastheresuchadayinJune，neversuchafete。TheparkneverlookedsolovelyandneverapartysogaydisportedthemselvesinitandgayestofthemallwasAdrien。Alldaylongitseemedasifherverysoulwerelaughingforjoy。AndalldaylongshekeptclosebesideJack，chaffinghim，laughingathim，rallyinghimonhissolemnfaceanddrivinghimhalf-madwithhergaywitchery。
Thenhometheyallcametosupper，wherewaitedthemMcNishandhismotherwithMr。McGinnis，fortheyhadbeenunabletojoininthemotordrive。
“Macertie，lassie！Butye’reasightforsareeen。Whathaeyebindaeintaeher，Mr。Jack，“saidMrs。McNish，asshewelcomedthematthedoor。
“TheLordonlyknows，“saidJack。
“But，man，lookather！“exclaimedtheoldlady。
“Ihavebeen，alldaylong，“repliedJackwithagallantattemptatgaiety。
“Oh，Mrs。McNish，“criedthegirl，ripplingwithjoyouslaughter，“hewon’tevenlookatme。Hejust——whatdoyousay——glowers，that’sit——glowersatme。Andwehavehadsuchawonderfulday。
Come，Jack，getyourselfreadyforsupper。Youhaveonlyafewminutes。“
Shecaughtherarmthroughhisandlaughingshamelesslyintohiseyes，drewhimaway。
“Isay，Adrien，“saidJack，drivenfinallytodesperationanddrawingherintothequietofthelibrary，“Iamawfullygladyouaresohappyandallthat，butIdon’tseethenecessityofrubbingitintoafellow。YouknowhowIfeel。Iamgladforyouand——I
amgladforRupert。Or，atleastItoldhimso。“
“But，Jack，“saidthegirl，hereyesburningwithadeepinnerglow，“Ruperthasnothingtodowithit。Rupert，indeed，“andshelaughedscornfully。“Oh，Jack，whycan’tyousee？“
“Seewhat？“hesaidcrossly。
“Jack，“shesaidsoftly，turningtowardhimandstandingverynearhim，“yourememberthenoteyousentme？“
“Note？“
“Thenoteyousentthenightofthehockeydance？“
“Yes，“saidJackbitterly，“Iremember。“
“Andyouremember，too，howhorridIwastoyouthenexttimeIsawyou？Howhorrid？Oh，Jack，itbrokemyheart。“Hervoicefalteredamomentandhershiningeyesgrewdim。“Iwassohorridtoyou。“
“Oh，no，“saidJackcoolly，“youwerekind。Youwereverykindandsisterly，asIremember。“
“Jack，“shesaidandherbreathbegantocomehurriedly，“Igotthatnoteyesterday。Onlyyesterday，Jack。“
“Yesterday？“
“Yes，onlyyesterday。AndIreadit，Jack，“sheaddedwithahappylaugh。“Andinthatnote，Jack，yousaid——doyouremember——“
ButJackstoodgazingstupidlyather。Shepulledthenotefromherbosom。
“Oh，Jack，yousaid——“
StillJackgazedather。
“Jack，youwillkillme。Won’tyouhurry？Oh，Ican’twaitamomentlonger。Yousaidyouweregoingtotellmesomething，Jack。“Shestoodradiant，breathlessandmadlyalluring。“Andoh，Jack，won’tyoutellme？“
“Adrien，“saidJack，hisvoicehuskyanduncontrolled。“Doyoumeanthatyou——“
“Oh，Jack，tellmequick，“shesaid，swayingtowardhim。Andwhilesheclungtohimtakinghiskissesonherlips，Jacktoldher。
End
