June , do you mean that ? he exclaimed . yes , she returned and her steady gaze conveyed as much as the brief reply . he caught his breath and swung back to his own seat . he started the car , and sped on at a speed that gradually filled her with alarm . where are we going ? you must turn back ! she cried , as a milestone flashed by . we &apos;ll go where there can be no turning back , he replied . we &apos;ll drive till midnight , and stay at the first place we come to . then neither of us can ever go back , and the matter will be settled . Eustace ! she caught hold of his arm . you &apos;re mad ! turn back ! no , he muttered . other people give up everything for love , and why not we ? love may not be all , but at least it &apos;s more than all the rest . I can n&apos;t give you up , June . I will n&apos;t . that his reckless impulse was due as much to pride and anger , the chagrin of an imperious man thwarted , as to any warmer passion , made it easier for her to recall him , his own natural good sense and worship of the conventions coming to her aid , but June had her hands over his , trying to force him to turn the car , which performed some queer antics during the brief struggle , and she was imploring him , Half sobbing , before she succeeded in persuading him to bring the car to a standstill . oh , turn round and drive back at once , she cried , sobbing openly now the danger was past . how could you be so mad ? he allowed her to shed agitated tears for some moments , without offering a word of apology , his mouth compressed , his features cruel in their clear-cut rigidity . I &apos;m sorry , he said then . and nothing will make you alter your decision ? please do n&apos;t talk about it any more . drive home . you think you &apos;ll make him happy by marrying him out of pity ? he asked . it is n&apos;t pity . I &apos;m fond of him . I was glad when he asked me to be his wife , and if - if meeting you earlier might have made a difference , it can n&apos;t do now . it would be mean to throw him aside , just to suit my convenience . if he were well - began Hilton . I &apos;d act exactly the same , she broke in . please drive back . it &apos;s quite dark . Hilton gave a sigh of fierce protest , and in another minute they were rushing back along the way they had come . after a temporary improvement , Frank Elvington &apos;s health ceased to show any advance . even his own optimism became slightly dimmed . whilst still confident of his recovery , he did not talk of it and his marriage with such eagerness as before , obviously regarding both as some distance away . June watched him with an ache in her heart . she seldom saw Hilton , both she and he avoiding each other as much as possible , and she devoted herself to Frank , trying to put Hilton out of her mind . one day , when she found Frank preoccupied , he confessed that he had been strongly advised to leave England , and had refused , at any rate , for the present . but why not go , dear ? she urged . you must do anything to get better . because I do n&apos;t want to leave you , he confessed . you must n&apos;t hesitate to go anywhere where there &apos;s the least chance of hastening your recovery . oh - well , he said reluctantly . I &apos;ve promised to think of it . whilst he hesitated , June met Dr Rother , who told her that Frank &apos;s only chance of life was to sail immediately for South Africa . he and Dr Hilton , he added , had done wonders in keeping him alive as long as they had done , but nothing more could be done for him in England . the warm climate of South Africa was his last and only chance . June had not thought his danger so great , and hearing that Dr Hilton was still with him , she hastened to Cliff Top , and was in time to stop Hilton as he crossed the wide entrance-hall to the door . he was passing her with an inclination of his head . no , she said , unsteadily . I must speak to you , please ! he followed her into the room near by . Dr Rother says that Frank must go away at once , she said . he has just consented to do so , replied Hilton . but is it true that this is his last chance ? she asked , and when he averted his head , not answering , Doctor Rother says it &apos;s his only chance , she added distressfully . he turned his head sharply looking down at her with a ruthless directness , and his words fell with icy distinctness . it is not his only chance , he said . it is no chance at all . June turned white , her lips falling apart , speechless . he may never come back , announced Hilton deliberately . she was horrified . for all her fears , it came as a shock to hear Frank &apos;s doom pronounced in so many words . she looked out of the window to where the leaves were already turning to pale yellow and deep copper , a mellow sky above them and she thought of all the beautiful things awaiting his enjoyment , of all the many years of life he was to miss . are you sure ? she whispered . yes . he does n&apos;t know ? she faltered , and professional instinct brought his brows together . no , he said , and you must not allow him to guess . I have told you he may never come back , but that must not be repeated to him . a patient &apos;s optimism has performed miracles before now . of course , he must not be robbed of hope . but you do n&apos;t expect any miracle to happen ? no . there was a little pause , whilst June mourned . remembering Frank &apos;s unwillingness to be separated from her - then is it any use sending him away to - to die among strangers ? she asked . he does n&apos;t want to go . he must go , replied Hilton . however useless , we must insist upon everything being done which possibly can be done . yes , of course , she assented , sadly . you see , June , said Hilton , softly , you can not put another man in my place even if you wish . do n&apos;t talk of that , she begged . how long - how long do you expect ? it may be as long as seven or eight months , but you &apos;ll be married to me before that , June . oh , no ! even his attraction was powerless to affect her at that moment . how can you mention such a thing ? our marriage will n&apos;t hasten his end by so much as a second , for he need not know of it , remarked Hilton , and I can not pretend to love you less , now I know you &apos;re going to be mine . he stepped to the door and opened it for her to pass out . she could not answer . she knew it was only natural that he should not be deeply affected by Frank &apos;s death , and equally natural that he should be pleased at the possibility of making her his wife , yet there seemed something callous about his calmness . she braced herself up to face Frank , but the ordeal was far worse than she had expected , for she found him in quite good spirits , waiting eagerly to tell her the news . June , darling , I &apos;m going to South Africa , he announced . I &apos;ve just promised Hilton . he says I have n&apos;t a chance here , but he &apos;s certain that a year out there will make me as well as ever I &apos;ve been . he &apos;s told me of another case similar to mine , which he sent out there with excellent results . I did n&apos;t tell you , darling , but I had n&apos;t much faith in the idea before . I thought I &apos;d perhaps go away from you and - all to no purpose , and if I was n&apos;t going to get better I wanted to stay with you . but now I feel satisfied it &apos;s just a year &apos;s absence and then - oh , June ! - health and you ! no price is too great for that ! it took all her courage and self-control to hide her tragic knowledge from him and to respond to his cheerful talk . she tried to rememeber what Hilton had said of the miracles performed by optimism and the desire for life , and to will passionately that Frank &apos;s belief in his recovery would add another miracle to the annals of the sick . but oh , June , to leave you all that time ! he exclaimed . eight or nine months at the very least , he said , and most probably a year . will you forget me in all that time ? no , Frank , I &apos;ll be marking the days off on the calendar and waiting for your return , she said , though she choked over the words . he pressed her fingers to his lips , afterwards holding her hand close against his cheek . I &apos;d rather stay here and die , with you beside me to the end , he whispered , than go away for all that long dreary time and then not return to you after all . supposing something happens to part us , June ? nothing will , she declared , with the tears running down her cheeks , her hands holding him protectingly . because do you know why , Frank ? because we &apos;re not going to be parted . she spoke vehemently in the impulse that had come to her , the passionate desire to comfort and serve , to sweeten his tragedy . I &apos;m going with you , she announced , firmly . June , darling ! he raised himself , his face irradiated . do you really mean you &apos;ll marry me before I go ? she nodded , a smile quivering under her tears , and as he clasped her to him , kissing and thanking her , she had no regret for her impulse of pity , only a great thankfulness that she could at least make his last months happy . sweetheart , I &apos;ll ask so little of you , he whispered , when his first rush of gratitude was over . I only want to have you with me . you &apos;re not going to marry a miserable invalid . we &apos;ll have a real honeymoon when I &apos;m well . it will be something to get well for . until that time you &apos;ll be Mrs Elvington only to other people . to me you &apos;ll still be my beautiful sweetheart who &apos;s waiting for me . and oh , darling , you will n&apos;t have to wait long ! I &apos;ll make such haste to get well . every moment she remained with him increased her satisfaction with the step she had taken , and when she left him she felt more at peace than she had done since Eustace Hilton had come into her life . she had undertaken a definite service , one that both her head and her heart approved , and which left no room for personal considerations . thus it was that when Hilton called that evening , she was beyond his power to influence . she was in her room , making out a list of the many things she required to take with her out of England , when his car stopped at the gate . thinking it must be Frank who had sent for her , she leaned out of the window , alarmed when she recognised the car , fearing he had brought her ill news of Frank . she did not imagine that he would pay her a visit except in Frank &apos;s interest , and when she hurried into the room where her mother was trying in vain to learn the reason of his visit , her first words were of her fiancee . no , he replied , there is nothing to be anxious about , but I shall be obliged if you can give me a few moments alone . Mrs Arnage rose somewhat haughtily , taking her departure with distinct displeasure . she might have borne much for Dr Hilton once , but as mother of the so soon-to-be Mrs Frank Elvington , of Cliff Top , she resented his cool dismissal . what is it ? asked June , when she was alone with Hilton . she could not think what had brought him . Elvington telephoned me to announce your immediate marriage , he replied , through his teeth , it seemed , his tightened lips moved so little . oh ! June was simultaneously relieved and troubled . relieved that his call meant no fresh ill to Frank , distressed and perturbed that he should be going to reopen personal matters which now more than ever should be buried and forgotten . 