Besides, he looked so dreadful." But she was too honest not to acknowledge to herself that not for pity's sake but for love's she had kissed him, and without even his invitation.

Then once again she recalled the look in his eyes of surprise in the moment of his returning consciousness, and the little smile that played around his lips.

Again wave upon wave of sickening self-loathing flooded from her soul every memory of the bliss of that supreme moment.

Even now she could feel the bite of the cold, half humorous scorn in the eyes that had opened upon her as she withdrew her lips from his.

On the back of this came another memory, sharp and stabbing, that this man was ill, perhaps terribly ill.