t doing myself a bit of good by it, and just"--Fanny wrung her
hands again--"just ruining them!"

"I suppose you mean I'm doing that," George said bitterly.

"Yes, I do!" she sobbed, and drooped upon the stairway railing,
exhausted.

"On the contrary, I mean to save my mother from a calamity."

Fanny looked at him wanly, in a tired despair; then she stepped by him
and went slowly to her own door, where she paused and beckoned to him.

"What do you want?"

"Just come here a minute."

"What for?" he asked impatiently.

"I just wanted to say something to you."

"Well, for heaven's sake, say it! There's nobody to hear." Nevertheless,
after a moment, as she beckoned him again, he went to her, profoundly
annoyed. "Well, what is it?"

"George," she said in a low voice, "I think you ought to be told
something. If I were you, I'd let my mother alone."

"Oh, my Lord!" he groaned. "I'm doing these things for her, not against
her!"

A mildness had come upon Fanny, and she had controlled her weeping. She
shook her head gently. "No, I'd let her alone if I were you. I don't
think she's very well, George."

"She! I never saw a healthier person in my life."

"No. She doesn't let anybody know, but she goes to the doctor
regularly."

"Women are always going to doctors regularly."

"No. He told her to."

George was not impressed. "It's nothing at all; she spoke of it to me
years ago--some kind of family failing. She said grandfather had it,
too; and look at him! Hasn't proved very serious with him! You act as if
I'd done something wrong in sending that man about his business, and as
if I were going to persecute my mother, instead of protecting her. By
Jove, it's sickening! You told me how all the riffraff in town were busy
with her name, and then the minute I lift my hand to protect her, you
begin to attack me and--"

"Sh!" Fanny checked him, laying her hand on his arm. "Your uncle is
going."

The library doors were heard opening, and a moment later there came the
sound of the front door closing.

George moved toward the head of the stairs, then stood listening; but
the house was silent.

Fanny made a slight noise with her lips to attract his attention, and,
when he glanced toward her, shook her head at him urgently. "Let her
alone," she whispered. "She's down there by herself. Don't go down. Let
her alone."

She moved a few steps toward him and halted, her face pallid and
awestruck, and then both stood liste