either side of her.

Teresa grovelled and groaned at her feet. Those ferocious hands that had
laid the slanderer prostrate on the floor, feebly beat her bosom and
her gray head. "Oh, Saints beloved of God! Oh, blessed Virgin, mother of
Christ, spare my child, my sweet child!" She rose in wild despair--she
seized Benjulia, and madly shook him. "Who are you? How dare you touch
her? Give her to me, or I'll be the death of you. Oh, my Carmina, is it
sleep that holds you? Wake! wake! wake!"

"Listen to me," said Benjulia, sternly.

She dropped on the sofa by Carmina's side, and lifted one of the cold
clenched hands to her lips. The tears fell slowly over her haggard face.
"I am very fond of her, sir," she said humbly. "I'm only an old woman.
See what a dreadful welcome my child gives to me. It's hard on an old
woman--hard on an old woman!"

His self-possession was not disturbed--even by this.

"Do you know what I am?" he asked. "I am a doctor. Leave her to me."

"He's a doctor. That's good. A doctor's good. Yes, yes. Does the old
man know this doctor--the kind old man?" She looked vacantly for Mr.
Gallilee. He was bending over his wife, sprinkling water on her deathly
face.

Teresa got on her feet, and pointed to Mrs. Gallilee. "The breath of
that She-Devil poisons the air," she said. "I must take my child out of
it. To my place, sir, if you please. Only to my place."

She attempted to lift Carmina from the sofa--and drew back, breathlessly
watching her. Her rigid face faintly relaxed; her eyelids closed, and
quivered.

Mr. Gallilee looked up from his wife. "Will one of you help me?" he
asked. His tone struck Benjulia. It was the hushed tone of sorrow--no
more.

"I'll see to it directly." With that reply, Benjulia turned to Teresa.
"Where is your place?" he said. "Far or near?"

"The message," she answered confusedly. "The message says." She signed
to him to look in her hand-bag--dropped on the floor.

He found Carmina's telegram, containing the address of the lodgings. The
house was close by. After some consideration, he sent the nurse into the
bedroom, with instructions to bring him the blankets off the bed. In the
minute that followed, he examined Mrs. Gallilee. "There's nothing to be
frightened about. Let her maid attend to her."

Mr. Gallilee again surprised Benjulia. He turned from his wife, and
looked at Carmina. "For God's sake, don't leave her here!" he broke out.
"After what she has heard, this hou