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CHAPTER XXX

MEANWHILE, Ethel Hume, having seen Mary comfortably established in Russell Square, was finding her own way home. Ethel was getting quite independent in these days, and she enjoyed her freedom immensely. She was not sorry to part with Mary. She loved Mary very much, of course, but her sister's attitude of late had been extremely puzzling. Mary was exactly like a person suffering under a delusion, and although Ethel never for a single moment believed her wild words and her apparently unfounded suspicions, yet, nevertheless, she could not help owning to an intense relief at her being away from home just now.

"And just when darling Kate is in such terrible trouble," thought the girl. "How fearfully she would be in the way! I wonder how soon Ralph will take a turn for the better. Oh, of course he won't die; people don't die in these days when they are young and strong and can have the best advice and the best nursing. I shall tell Kate that, when I see her. Poor dear! I wonder when they will start for Australia now, and I wonder if father and mother will allow me to accompany them. Dear, dear Kate, there is no one like her in all the world; she is the most beautiful, fascinating, charming girl I have ever met."

Ethel found her train all right, but just as she was stepping into it she was startled by hearing a | | 300 voice in her ears--a familiar voice. She turned and saw Kate running, panting, down the platform. "Why, Kitty!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, it is me, Ethel. I know you are greatly astonished. Oh, let me in. I thought this train had gone. I am in a fever to be back again with Ralph."

Ethel held out her hand to Kate. The train was just beginning to move out of the station. An angry porter shouted out a remonstrance. The door was slammed behind Kate, and the two girls found themselves alone in a first-class compartment.

Kate flung herself, panting, on the cushions. She could not speak at all for a moment. Her face was ghastly pale. Her hair was in disorder. She scarcely looked pretty. She was certainly wildly excited.

"But where have you been?" asked the astonished Ethel.

"Listen to me, Ethel." Kate was now recovering her breath. Ethel bent forward.

"Oh, do close that window. I cannot speak with the rattle the train makes."

Ethel lifted up the window in question.

"Now, what is it, Kitty? You do look queer and wild."

"I am glad I met you. We can go back to the Grange together. I don't want any one to know that I have been to town."

"But is Ralph better?"

"Better! He is worse, a great deal worse."

"Then have you been up to get a fresh doctor?"

"I? No!"

"Why did you go?"

"I cannot tell you why, and you must not ask me, | | 301 and don't tell any one you met me. When is Uncle Robert likely to be back?"

"He is sure to take an early train, but he is not in this one and there won't be another for an hour."

"That is all right, Ethel; we'll get out just before we reach the avenue, and you can go down in the trap and I'll walk through the plantation, and you won't tell any one that you met me; you'll promise, won't you, dear Ethel?"

"Of course I will promise, Kitty, but I cannot understand it."

"I know that. There are a great many things which you cannot understand just now. Oh, Ethel, I am so miserable."

"Poor Kitty, poor darling! " said Ethel. She laid her hand on her cousin's arm. "How hot you are!" she said. "I hope you are not getting Ralph's fever."

"It would be a good thing if I did get it. I wish I could. I wish typhoid fever was infectious."

"Kate, why do you talk in that wild way?"

"If you were me you would talk just as wildly. I am persecuted and miserable. Mary's manner is enough to turn my life into a hell."

"She does not mean it, poor Mary," said Ethel; "it must be as you think, Kate; her mind cannot be right."

"I dare say it is not, but that does not make things more pleasant for me. She suspects me--she hates me. It is awful of her, and now that Ralph is so ill."

"Oh, I was going to speak to you about that," said Ethel, cheering up at the mention of Ralph's name. "I feel quite a firm conviction in my mind that Ralph will recover. He is young and strong, and strong young men are often frightfully ill for a little, | | 302 but they always get better. Yes, Ralph will recover, and you will be happy, poor Kitty, and if you renew your invitation perhaps we can go out to Australia in a month or two and have that delightful time together. Oh, I am so looking forward to it."

Kate heaved a heavy sigh; she was quite hopeless at the present moment.

"There's one comfort," she said after a pause. "Mary has taken herself off. I won't have her angry suspicious eyes fixed on my face wherever I turn."

"It is a very good thing for us all," answered Ethel. "I am as much relieved as you are."

"And you fully believe in me, don't you, Ethel?"

"Believe in you! " said Ethel with enthusiasm--"there is no one like you. You don't know how I love you."

"You don't think there is anything queer about me?" Ethel looked slightly puzzled.

"It is, perhaps, that you are so charming," she said then slowly, "and one of your charms is the sort of mystery which envelops you; but there is no one like you, Kitty, and I love you with all my heart."

"Only you suspect me just a little?" said Kate.

"No, indeed, I don't."

"You are greatly wondering why I have gone to town on the day my husband is so ill?"

"I won't let myself wonder," said Ethel stoutly.

Kate now changed her seat and sat close to Ethel. She slipped her hand inside Ethel's arm and presently laid her tired head on her shoulder.

"You are one in a thousand," she said. "I love you, Ethel, with all my heart."

Before the journey came to an end Kate, leaning against Ethel, was sound asleep.