Nancy stroked his cheek with her small, cool fingers.
"My poor darling," she whispered. "I will do everything I can for you to-morrow—I promise you that—but I must run away now and let you go to sleep. I don't want you to be seriously ill, Colin, especially when you've just found out that you love me."
"Perhaps you're right," admitted Colin reluctantly. "The worst of it is we shall have precious little time to ourselves until Mark comes home, and after that I shall have to dash up to Scotland Yard."
Nancy tucked in the bedclothes, and then, bending over, dropped a soft little kiss on his forehead.
"Never mind," she said happily. "There'll be lots of days after to-morrow."
She walked to the doorway, and for a moment stood there, looking back at him with a world of love and tenderness in her eyes. Then very softly she stepped out into the passage and closed the door behind her.
* * * * * * * * *
When Colin woke next morning it was with a vague feeling that something extraordinarily pleasant had happened to him. For several seconds he lay still, wondering what it could be; then, as the truth suddenly occurred to him, he started up from the pillow and opened his eyes. Two agreeable discoveries awaited him. His headache had gone, and Nancy, fully dressed and holding a cup of tea in her hand, was standing beside the bed.
"I was just going to take it away again," she said, smiling. "You looked so beautifully comfy I hadn't the heart to wake you."
Colin reached out an arm and imprisoned her left hand.