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266 "Allan," she cried, catching at his hand and pulling it down, "Allan, you can—you"

"Yes," he said with a laugh, squeezing her fingers indifferently because they happened to be in his, "yes. I did try Dr. Middleton after all."

"I never thought you could be blind for long," she muttered, "if it had been any one else, now—but why did you keep it to yourself?"

He laughed heartily as he stretched himself out lazily on the grass and tilted his hat forward.

"Do you really want to know? Because I wanted to have my secret too that's all. You see, I thought that if I were blind and helpless and all that sort of thing, you might get to care a little, don't you see, and" "Then we were both disappointed," she said with a note of triumph in her voice. "I'm rather glad of that."

"Dr. Middleton?" she said presently to the three counties. "Then, if it hadn't been for me"

But no one finished her sentence, for Allan Drew had suddenly bethought him of a cigarette.