Whatever he had done, and she felt against all the teachings of her reason that it had not been evil, he had shown himself the equal of the best at Silverdale, and she laughed as she wondered which of the men there she could set in the balance against him.

Then she shivered a little, remembering that there was a barrier whose extent he alone realized between them, and wondered vaguely what the future would bring.
It was a week or two before Winston was on his feet again, and Maud Barrington was one of the first to greet him when he walked feebly into the hall.

She had, however, decided on the line of conduct that would be most fitting, and there was no hint of more than neighborly kindliness in her tone.

They had spoken about various trifles when Winston turned to her.
"You and Miss Barrington have taken such good care of me that if I consulted my inclinations I would linger in convalescence a long while," he said.

"Still, I must make an effort to get away to-morrow." "We cannot take the responsibility of letting you go under a week yet," said Maud Barrington.