Part 44 (1/2)

”I don't know, Mike.” Her voice was very gentle. ”I don't see how you can help me.”

”I can pray,” he said. ”I will pray. Perhaps that is where I have been to blame. I have left you out of my prayers.”

Millicent looked at him. Her eyes questioned.

”I have thought only of myself, my own safety, the keeping of my thoughts pure and true to Meg, my fight for self-control.”

”Oh, Mike!” Millicent's voice was crushed, envious.

”I should have tried to help you as well. We can all help each other by prayers and thoughts and beliefs, belief in the kingdom of G.o.d which is in us. I behaved as if you were not divine, Millicent.”

”I'm not. How can I be divine? I am absolutely worldly--I've no wish for your divine love!”

”Divinity is in you,” he said. ”It is yours, you cannot get away from it.” He paused. ”You were ashamed just now--that was the light which cannot be put out. Now, every day, I will try to be less selfish, I will pray for you. Prayer will help to bring you into the light. Soon you will begin to peep into the kingdom of G.o.d which is in you. You will see how wonderful it is. Love will hold out its arms to you from every pa.s.sing cloud, from every comer of the wilderness. I am to blame, for I only tried to banish you, instead of helping you. I must begin to-day. We must all help each other by our thoughts as well as by our actions. Do you understand? I, who ought to have known better, have failed.”

Millicent took his hand and raised it to her lips. ”Why should G.o.d have so blessed Margaret Lampton?” she said. ”She is your 'guarded lady,' as Ha.s.san would say.”

”When you know her better, you will see that it is not Meg, but I, who have been blessed, I who have reason to be thankful. Margaret's thoughts constantly reach me; they have helped me over and over again.”

”Will you forgive me, Mike?”

”Of course I will,” he said. ”Else how could I help you?”

”It's your very goodness I love, Michael. I realize that. And yet how horribly I have tried to spoil it!”

”We are going to start afresh, we understand each other.” He looked at her with sincere eyes. ”Isn't that so? Do you want me for your friend, Millicent?”

”More than anything in the world . . . except . . .” she paused.

”. . . except . . .”

His eyes held hers; they became stern. ”We have settled all that. You know now that it can never be, and if I am to be your friend, you must forget all that you have ever said.”

”Yes, yes--the crumbs, Mike, they are sweeter than nothing.”

”My help,” he said, ”and sympathy--that is what I can give you.”

”And may I remain in your camp for a little time?”

”No.” His voice was firm. ”We must part. But that will make no difference. I will help you, I promise. I can help you as Margaret helps me.”

Millicent made no demur. It was useless. ”Will the saint be well enough to travel to-morrow, do you think?”

”I don't know. His headache was better this morning. If he can retain some food, he may soon pick up.”

”And you will go on to Akhnaton's tomb?” Millicent did not refer to the buried treasure.

”Whenever he is better.” Michael looked at his watch. ”We had better be going back,” he said. ”I want to make preparations.”

”And I am to return to civilization!”