"All right, I'll come."
CHAPTER XIII
THE FORBIDDEN LAND
As Stuart dressed for the dinner he thought of Harriet with a pang. He had promised her to try to keep out of danger. But could she know or understand the struggle through which he was passing! He wondered vaguely why he had seen so little of her lately. She had become more and more absorbed in her music and her manner had grown shy and embarrassed. Yet, whenever he had resented it and stopped to lounge and chat and draw her out, she was always her old sweet self.
The doctor, too, had avoided him of late and he noticed that his clothes had begun to look shabby. He hurried down stairs, determined to see him a moment before leaving.
He caught him hurrying from the house and laid his hand affectionately on his arm.
"These are tough times, Doctor, and if you need any help you must let me know."
The older man's voice trembled as he replied:
"Thank you, my boy, that's a very unusual speech to hear these days. It renews my faith in the world."