Out in the
pure air, under the bright sky, she might breathe more freely. "Come to
the flowers," she said.
They went to the garden together--the wife fearing the deceitful
husband, the husband fearing the quick-witted wife.
Watching each other like two strangers, they walked silently side by
side, and looked now and then at the collection of flowers and plants.
Iris noticed a delicate fern which had fallen away from the support to
which it had been attached. She stopped, and occupied herself in
restoring it to its place. When she looked round again, after attending
to the plant, her husband had disappeared, and Mr. Vimpany was waiting
in his place.
CHAPTER XLIV
FICTION: IMPROVED BY THE DOCTOR
"WHERE is Lord Harry?" Iris asked.
The reply startled her: "Lord Harry leaves me to say to your ladyship,
what he has not had resolution enough to say for himself."
"I don't understand you, Mr. Vimpany."
The doctor pointed to the fern which had just been the object of Lady
Harry's care.
"You have been helping that sickly plant there to live and thrive," he
said, "and I have felt some curiosity in watching you. There is another
sickly plant, which I have undertaken to rear if the thing can be done.
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