“Oh?” There was surprised interrogation in Olga’s voice.  “Where is she, then?”

“At Redlands,” said Nick; then, seeing her puzzled look:  “We’re married, you know, sweetheart.”

“Oh?” she said again.  “I didn’t know.”

“It’s some time ago now,” said Nick.  “We’ve got a little kiddie called Reggie.  He’s at Redlands too.”

“I remember now,” Olga smiled understanding.  “How is Reggie?” she asked.

“Oh, going strong,” said Nick.  “He’ll soon be as big as I am.”

She stretched up a shaky hand to stroke his parchment face.  “You’re the biggest man I know, Nick,” she said softly.  “Dad says I may come and stay with you at Redlands.  Will you have me?”

“Rather!” said Nick.  “There’s your own room waiting for you.”

“Dear Nick!” she murmured.  “You are good to me.”

She lay still for a few seconds, holding his hand.  Her eyes were wandering round the room.  They reached him at last, alert and watchful by her side.

“Nick!” she said.

“What is it, kiddie?”

“There’s something I can’t remember,” she said.  “And it hurts me when I try.  Nick, what is it?”

He answered her at once with great gentleness.  “It’s nothing you need worry your head about, dear.  I know and so does Jim.  You leave it to us till you are a bit stronger.”

But she continued to look at him with trouble in her eyes.  “I feel as if someone is calling me,” she said.

“But that is not so,” said Nick quickly and firmly.  “Believe me, there is nothing for it but patience.  Wait till you are stronger.”

She submitted to the mandate, conscious of her own inability to do otherwise; but there was a touch of reproach in her voice as she said, “I thought you would help me, Nick.”

“I will,” he promised, “when the time comes.”

That comforted her somewhat, for she trusted him implicitly; and when Dr. Jim came in he found her quite tranquil.

Thereafter Nick was permitted to see her for a little every day, and she welcomed his visits with enthusiasm.

She would have welcomed Muriel also, but Dr. Jim had decreed that one visitor in the day was enough.  She would see Muriel as soon as she was well enough to go to Redlands.

“I really think I am well enough to go now,” she confided to Nick one morning.  “Do try and persuade Dad.”

Nick undertook to do so, with the result that late that night Dr. Jim came in, wrapped her in blankets, head and all as though she had been an infant, and carried her away.

It was a masterly move and achieved with such precision on his part that she had scarcely time to be surprised or excited before she was lying, still in his arms, in a motor and travelling rapidly through the darkness.  He uncovered her face then and gave her his blunt permission to come up and breathe.

She clung to him delightedly.  “Oh, Dad, isn’t it fun?  But you’re going to stay at Redlands too?”