, two doors along the passage. What do you want to
see him about?"

"I wish to inform him that he may still consider himself engaged to my
daughter."

"Oh, well, I don't suppose he'll mind being woken up to hear that. But
what's the idea?"

"It's a long story."

"That's all right. Let's make a night of it."

"I am a dying man. I awoke an hour ago with a feeling of acute pain...."

Miss Hubbard listened to the story of his symptoms with interest but
without excitement.

"What nonsense!" she said at the conclusion.

"I assure you...."

"I'd like to bet it's nothing serious at all."

"My dear young lady," said Mr. Bennett, piqued. "I have devoted a
considerable part of my life to medical study...."

"I know. That's the trouble. People oughtn't to be allowed to read
medical books."

"Well, we need not discuss it," said Mr. Bennett stiffly. He resented
being dragged out of the valley of the shadow of death by the scruff of
his neck like this. A dying man has his dignity to think of. "I will
leave you now, and go and see young Mortimer." He clung to a hope that
Bream Mortimer at least would receive him fittingly. "Good-night!"

"But wait a moment!"

Mr. Bennett left the room, unheeding. He was glad to go. Jane Hubbard
irritated him.

His expectation of getting more satisfactory results from Bream was
fulfilled. It took some time to rouse that young man from a slumber
almost as deep as his father's; but, once roused, he showed a gratifying
appreciation of the gravity of affairs. Joy at one half of his visitor's
news competed with consternation and sympathy at the other half. He
thanked Mr. Bennett profusely, showed a fitting concern on learning of
his terrible situation, and evinced a practical desire to help by
offering him a bottle of liniment which he had found useful for
gnat-stings. Declining this, though not ungratefully, Mr. Bennett
withdrew and made his way down the passage again with something
approaching a glow in his heart. The glow lasted till he had almost
reached the landing, when it was dissipated by a soft but compelling
voice from the doorway of Miss Hubbard's room.

"Come here!" said Miss Hubbard. She had put on a blue bath-robe, and
looked like a pugilist about to enter the ring.

"Well?" said Mr. Bennett coldly, coming nevertheless.

"I'm going to have a look at that tongue of yours," said Jane firmly.
"It's my opinion that you're making a lot of fuss over nothing."

Mr. Bennett dr