turb anybody.... I was
lost--and it grew dark.... I don't know my way--very well--"

She turned, conscious of some one's arm supporting her; and Stephanie
said, in a low, pitiful voice:

"Lean back on me. You must let me help you to the house."

"Thank you--I won't go in.... If I could rest--a moment--perhaps
somebody--Mr. Neville--would help me to get home again--"

[Illustration: "'Dearest,' he whispered, putting his arm around her,
'you must come with us'"]

"Come with me, Miss West," whispered Stephanie, "I _want_ you. Will you
come to my room with me for a little while?"

She looked into Stephanie's eyes, turned and looked at Neville.

"Dearest," he whispered, putting his arm around her, "you must come with
us."

She nodded and moved forward, steadily, between them both, and entered
the house, head-carried high on the slender neck, but her face was
colourless under the dark masses of her loosened hair, and she swayed at
the foot of the stairs, reaching out blindly at nothing--falling
forward.

It was a dead weight that Neville bore into Stephanie's room. When his
mother turned him out and closed the door behind him he stood stupidly
about until his sister, who had gone into the room, opened the door and
bade him telephone for Dr. Ogilvy.

"What has happened to her?" he asked, as though dazed.

"I don't know. I think you'd better tell Quinn to bring around the car
and go for Dr. Ogilvy yourself."

It was a swift rush to Dartford through the night; bareheaded he bent
forward beside the chauffeur, teeth set, every nerve tense and straining
as though his very will power was driving the machine forward. Then
there came a maddening slowing down through Dartford streets, a
nerve-racking delay until Sam Ogilvy's giant brother had stowed away
himself and his satchel in the tonneau; then slow speed to the town
limits; a swift hurling forward into space that whirled blackly around
them as the great acetylenes split the darkness and chaos roared in
their ears.

Under the lighted windows the big doctor scrambled out and stamped
upstairs; and Neville waited on the landing.

His father appeared below, looking up at him, and started to say
something; but apparently changed his mind and went back into the living
room, rattling his evening paper and coughing.

Cameron passed through the hallway, looked at him, but let him alone.

After a while the door opened and Lily came out.

"I'm not needed," she said; "you