The Keeper of the Door

he was able to dismiss the matter without much difficulty. It was one of the busiest mornings of the week, and no sooner had s

er the lime-trees with a book and a box of cigarettes. The three boys

ness, and the jam-making could not be deferred. So intent was she that she really almost forgot the physical discomfort in her anxiety to accomp

er energies were seriously flagging. The rest of the garden seemed to be swimming in a haze around her, but she stubbornly ignored that, and bent again to her work, fixing her attention once more with all her resolution upon the great rose-red berries that were waiting to be ga

her temples. She cried out sharply with the pain of it, staggered, clutched wildly at emptiness, and fell. The contents of her basket scattered around h

ed to push them away. In the end she found herself sitting on an old wooden bench in the shade of the garden

, with a painful ga

head and removed the sun-bonnet while he was speaking. "Don't move

th a sure, cool touch. Sh

aid uneasily. "I want to m

" said M

nd upon her head, and she was glad of its s

cheon-time," she said

Max. "We wil

pberries first, and-there's a

omeone else," he said. "You are not fi

" She took his hand from her head and slowly raised it. Instantly that a

s it?"

ped. "And oh, Max,

ong!" he said. "I'm g

more attention than if it had been the buzzing o

ulder!" he said, and she

er upon her bed. He seemed to know exactly how she felt, for he propped her head high with a skill that she found infi

uch," murmured Ol

"As soon as you feel a little better, you undress and slip into bed. I'll com

, really. I'll lie here for a little while,

ou will do as I say," he said deliberately. "You are to go to be

ame aware of the futility of argument. She felt moreover

t about

of herself," he sai

But she did venture to say as he released her hand, "Please don'

o me!" said M

ness of undressing was almost more than she could accomplish. But she did manage it at last, and crept thankfully into b

ll thought, and from which she only roused herself to fi

ad very bad

she whi

ff here that will

, and then see if y

less severe Olga might have found room for ama

said Max. "You needn't

fted her. She commanded herself and drank f

she said. "Is it-is

about 'the pain-

he did not pursue it. He laid her down

was all gone, swamped, forgotten, in this curious flood of warmth and ecstasy. It was the most marvellous sensation she had ever experienced. Her whole being thrilled responsive to the glow. It was as though a door had bee

felt as one at the entrance of a dream-world, a world of unknown unimagined splendours, a world of golden at

ed to her side. His hand was laid upon her arm, his

radise was lost. Softly, inexorably, the door that had begun to open to her clo

usly she tried to plead with him, but it was as though an obscuring veil had been dropped upon

ice quite close to her, v

, sweetheart! It's

hair, but she was not certain and it did not seem to matter. Sur

in dark places, and then a slow deepening of

at someone held close to her. The last thing her brain regist

ep, deep waters of oblivion in which it had been steeped. For a long time she lay with closed eyes, semi-conscious, not t

he murmure

made soft response.

guely. "What are you

re of you,

her wits with difficulty

t one," s

ittle wider. "But what are you wai

ometimes," said Nick

ead on the pillo

said

been?" she

been in now

. "Am I ill, Nick?" she asked

ar," he said, "but you've slept it off. Max is quite satisfied abo

rid!" sa

ick like a leech for the future. You will never

I'm dreadfully sorry. But I had to ge

or. Nick got up, but she clung to him so fast that

th some refreshments. We'll leave you in p

she whispered. "Pl

f you will let me take your pulse f

eside Nick. Outlined against the dim light shed by a sha

Olga," he said. "

second Nick had withdrawn himself, and Max stood alone beside her bed. He stooped

in pain?"

e whispe

doesn't hurt you t

he said

lse. As he took out his watch, she remembered again the two things that had outlasted all other impressions be

ax

ment!" s

oments before he

mething," he said then, "and had another slee

repressive. She wished the light

an effort, "why-why di

. She was sure his eyes gleamed mockery. He was silent

ppointment. She knew she wo

she remained silent he laid his hand

ight!"

to respond. In another moment he had turned fr

oftly out, and she saw n

It was wonderful to note how little his infirmity hampered him. There were very few things

n of her faculties, would not permit him to s

eclared. "If I'm not, you are only in t

will you?"

urse I

a pro

nd kissed it. "Yes, d

" said Nick

, and she detained him to assure him h

tted to look after you," he said rathe

peech was so extraordi

breat

at nonsense! Surely you don't

you?" s

xpectedly. "I-I can't quite say. I haven't really thoug

s it is,"

him with a little shiver. "Nick, you hav

have," s

s unmistakable dist

wanted to know if I'd better go on with it, if he thought-in view of to-day's misfortune-it

he say?"

health appeared to be up to the average young wo

interjected Olg

ed Nick. "But-I'll tell you this-he do

ga. "What has it g

know,"

n't you

hat in the morning-bef

s my belief that you're afraid o

ot," said

ou so careful o

hell," said Nick. "I've done it myself,

ly, N

t. You know or p'raps you don'

d Olga. "Nick dear, you'll promise me, won't you, that if Muriel agree

ider?" asked N

," said Olga. "I can't imagine

ou don't yourse

a matter of this sort. I think he is v

n't be too hard on him, kiddie.

o know what they

I daresay-if you were to ask h

her arms round his neck and held him closely for a moment. "Nick darling, you will work that

hurting his feel

couldn't care all that. It's o

ou? I wonder whic

, dismay, incredulit

e from the clinging of her arms,

" he called back to he

ock on the wall if

. The latch clicked behin