the hidden face, but the eyes remained closed, the jaw
fixed and fallen. Poor Flora! Her sufferings had been real enough,
since in the end they had culminated in this heavy swoon. Meriel threw
open windows, found water and smelling salts, and unloosed the clothing
round the neck. In the midst of her efforts Sterne entered, and with
quick glance took in the situation. He brought a flask of brandy from
his room, and from time to time inserted a few drops within the parted
lips. But Flora did not revive. She moaned and stirred, but her eyes
remained closed. She showed no consciousness of their presence. In hot
haste a doctor was summoned; he came, and stood gazing grimly down at
the still figure.

"We did everything we could think of before sending for you," Sterne
explained. "Fanned her, sponged her head, gave her brandy--"

The doctor looked at him--a terrible look.

"_Brandy_!" he repeated deeply. "Man, have you no eyes? What have you
been about to allow her to come to this pass? She is not faint. She is
drunk!"

Flora's remorse was a pitiful thing. For years she had been playing
with fire, but the knowledge of the depths to which she had fallen
filled her with shame and fear. For days together she refused to see
her husband, but from the first moment of consciousness she clung with a
childish desperation to the friend of her youth.

"Don't leave me! Don't go away! I can't face it alone. Oh, Meriel,
stay and help me to bear it. I'm afraid to be left alone with Geoffrey.
He will say nothing--he'll go on being kind, but it will be in his
mind.--I shall see it in his eyes... I've disgraced him, and I'm
afraid--I'm afraid of the future! ... Oh, Meriel, stay and help me!"

That night, walking in the darkening garden, Meriel told Sterne of his
wife's desire, and added a few simple words.

"If you wish it, too, I will stay," she said. "I have no home ties, and
can extend my visit as long as it suits you. But I must have your
approval. If you would prefer a regular attendant--"

His face twitched with emotion.

"I should--_abhor_ it!" he said tensely. "If you could stay, it would
be a godsend, but it seems too great a sacrifice... We have no right to
ask it. Why should you give up so much?"

"I have so little to give up," Meriel said. She looked into Sterne's
face with a pathetic attempt at a smile. "I am a superfluous woman.
Nobody needs me, and all my life I have longed to be needed.