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very important in the lives of the man beside her and the girl who had come so suddenly and unexpectedly into their lives.
    “I’ll be back in three weeks,” Dr. Rob told her, and frowned. “It means, of course, that I won’t be able to make any more enquiries—but apart from that, will it really make much difference in the long run—that is, if you are staying on down here and will let her stay with you?”
    “Yes, to both questions,” Miss Alice said slowly. “But you must remember, Rob, that whatever Rosamund may choose to do, I’ve no authority over her at all.”
    He looked at her sharply.
    “You’ve got something particular in mind, haven’t you?” he asked.
    “Yes, I have, Miss Alice said unwillingly. “Though I don’t like telling tales out of school. It’s simply that she and John Lindsay:—” she indicated the Seven Stars with a jerk of her head—“have got very friendly this last week.”
    “No more than that?”
    “At this stage, no, I don’t think so.” Miss Alice chose her words with considerable care. “But there’s something about Rosamund—a sparkle a—a sort of inner light which might mean she’s falling in love with him. It’s difficult to explain just what I mean, but you must judge for yourself. They went into Bath together, but they’ll be back for tea.”
    “H’m!” Dr. Rob’s frown was almost a scowl. “What’s your opinion of the young man, Alice?”
    “I like him,” she said unhesitatingly. “I think he’s got a temper and is capable of being very moody—in fact, I know he is. On the other hand, he strikes me as being both clean and honest. But really I don’t know a great deal about him. In fact, Rob, he’s as reticent about his past as Rosamund is about hers!”
    “Is he, indeed!” Dr. Rob exclaimed grimly, and then laughed. “You know, Alice,” he said wryly, “Rosamund being reticent' about her past simply seems to be natural and reasonable in the circumstances. But where this young man’s concerned, I’m inclined to jump to the conclusion that he’s got something shady to hide. In fact, with very little encouragement, I could play the heavy father to perfection ! Perhaps it’s just as well that I’m going away for a time. I might be tempted to interfere and precipitate something that otherwise might never happen. All the same—” his voice grew very tender—“keep an eye on my girl for me, Alice!”
    “I’ll do that,” she promised gruffly, near to tears.
    The warm summer days flitted past, one much like the other and, to Rosamund, all quite perfect. Every night before sleep engulfed her, she would live over again the day that had just passed. The pearly morning when, disturbed by the clamouring bird song, she had gone out on deck to breathe the chilly, sweet-scented air. The simple everyday tasks that she performed so effortlessly because she was so preoccupied thinking of the exquisite magic that had come into her life. And that, of course, meant that she was thinking of John. She knew now beyond all doubt that she loved him, and she was daring to hope that he was beginning to love her.
    He sought her company, talked much more freely about his book with frequent references to the part she had played in finding the solution to his earlier problems. All that would have been wonderful by itself, but there was much more to it than that. The little silences that fell between them had a significance at once sweet and disturbing. The way he looked at her when he didn't think she was noticing and the way in which his hand so often touched hers. Surely all that added up to one thing—he loved her even if, as yet, he didn’t realise it. But soon he would, and in the meantime she was content to wait in her world of dreams and hopes.
    Only one thing troubled her. Sooner or later she would have to tell him more about herself—in fact, in view of his obvious interest in her, it surprised her that he had not already begun to ask questions, and