"I do not say that I shall," I said. "Give me a few days—only a few days—and I will decide in my mind all about it."
Then we saw Lance in the distance.
"There is my husband," she said. "Do I look very ill, Mr. Ford?"
"You do, indeed; you look ghastly," I said.
"I will go and meet him," she said.
The exercise and the fresh air brought some little color to her face before they met. Still he cried out that I had not taken care of her; that she was overtired.
"That is it," she replied. "I have been over-tired all day: I think my head aches; I have had a strange sensation of dizziness in it, I am tired—oh, Lance, I am so tired!"
"I shall not leave you again," said Lance to her, and I fancied he was not quite pleased with me, and thought I had neglected her. We all three went home together. Mrs. Fleming did not say much, but she kept up better than I thought she could have done. I heard her that same evening express a wish to be driven to Vale Royal on the day following; a young girl, whom she had been instrumental in saving from ruin, had been suddenly taken ill, and wanted to see her.
"My darling," Lance said, "you do not seem to me strong enough. Let me persuade you to rest tomorrow."
"I should like to see Rose Winter again before—before I"—then she stopped abruptly.