The Knave of Diamonds

her down, Anne rose to the surface of things, and looked once more upon the wor

o be yet falling, falling through emptiness to annihilation. And as she fell she caught the sounds of other worl

he awful darkness a hand reached out and grasped her own; a hand strong and vital that gripped and hel

erself gazing up into a face she knew, a lean, brow

ed her nerveless fingers

whispered weakl

answer with infinite gent

hispered in a vigorous undertone. A large white hand,

d it to her lips. Submissively, in answer to an influence th

wly she awoke to full consciousness, and found Nap E

she asked him fai

e said. "You were thrown

acted a little. "Am I

ill soon be all right again. I will leave you to get a good slee

Her hand still clung to his,

faltered, "my hus

h he were soothing a child. "Don't trouble about that.

yes was growing. "He isn

N

go to him. He will think it

agitation. "Your husband knows all about you. He couldn't come to-night,

aid, with a shudder. "

ds. You can't fall. Look at me! Keep lookin

rangely impersonal, held hers by some magic that was too utterly intangibl

had ever known before, she heard a woman's voice, hushed to a sibilant w

later, and she was lying in the broad sunshine

I don't suppose you can for a moment. You have had a wonderful escape, my dear lady, a most wonderful escape. But for

all?" A

is all. In any case we will run no risks. Let me cong

, and Anne turned slightly to see the person thus indicated. And so

inelegant exterior, how good a sort only her Maker knew. She was large in every way. It was the only word that described her; large-boned, large-feature

ild!" she said. "She don't know me yet. I'm Mrs. Errol, dear, Mrs. Lucas Blenheim Errol. And i

she saw no reason to disguise the fact. She knew that people smiled at her, but it ma

ry good," A

you think you're giving any trouble to anybody, for there isn't anything that pleases

r many a day. She tried weakly to give her hand to her new friend, but the pain

about her own, the large face, wonderfully smooth, save

its gruffness. "You're stiff in every limb, and no wonder. It'

e doctor had gone she began to show Anne how capable she was of fulfilling the responsibil

dest boy. But Lucas won't have me to wait on him now. He doesn't like his mother to see him in his bad hours, and they

as an infant and could not have refused her hostess's ministrations even had she desired to do so. She suffered a go

s possessed by a nervous dread that increased steadily as the hours wore on. At last, as Mrs. Errol seemed

as not come y

er with much kindness, but her tone

. "Did he send no message?" she asked at last, with knitted brows

Errol. "You would like to speak

he door. It was plain that here was a responsibility s

h on her face. "Don't call him in aga

leave her thus abandoned to the pitying kindness of strangers? She could hardly believe it. And yet-and yet-he had done un-heard-of things before. There were times, times that had become more and more

orked upon her that she began to grow feverish. T

f again and again, but each

ently, when she brought her tea. "It's the w

utterance of her fears was more than she could a

she went quietly away, leaving her alon

the pillow regardless of wrenched muscles, hoping against hope. But she looked in vain for her husband's tall figure, and a sigh that

ing hand, holding it in both his own so

you would like to s

so far as he was concerned. It seemed only natural in her trouble to turn to him for help. Had

would never have dreamed of according him in any less urgent circumstances, "I am

a certain grimness in his speech. "I shouldn't worry if I were you.

he said, her voice quiv

lie here an

rs. Errol vigorously. "What is

fingers were still close

. "You mustn't think me ungrateful or unapprec

ou have no cho

"Will you tell me exactly what has passed? Has he

said Na

k to him at once. I must indeed. You will manage it for me,

paused a moment and she felt his grasp slowly tighten upon her hand. "You want to know what passed, and perhaps it is better that you should know even if it distresses you. I sent a messenger in the motor to Sir Giles last night to tell him of your accident and to beg

o utter the word. They wer

t stop to inquire. I told him you were wanting him. I was quite kind to him-for your sake." She fancied the grim lips smiled. "But I regret t

like the half-uttered cry of a woman's hea

d for an instant.

hingly, "please tell me ever

lady, no man may kick Nap Errol and live

ed her head upon the pillow. The

ery gently. "That's the worst of telling the trut

pered back, "though I don't know

eave to go back. You will have to do it in any case, but-if you feel you owe me anything, which of course you don't"-h

upon his. Instantly she felt his answering pressure. A m