, sir, 'long o' Lady Tilborough; and they took her away in her
ladyship's carriage to Oakleigh."

"And then brought her home?"

"I s'pose so, uncle. I dunno. I stuck to you. So did Sam."

"Thank you, my boy--thank you, Simpkins. I'll talk to you another time.
But, you see, I'm quite clear and well now."

"Yes, Sir Hilton--thank goodness!" said the trainer, hoarsely.

"Then, now, you had better have a glass of something and drive--What's
that?"

"Wheels, uncle. There goes the gate."

The click, click, click came very plainly, and the next minute there
were the steps of Jane and Mark in the hall.

"Stop a moment," cried Sir Hilton. "What is it? Who is it come?"

"Her ladyship, I think, Sir Hilton," cried Jane.

"What! I thought she was at home."

"No, sir. She went to Tilborough after you."

"Uncle," cried Syd, "whatever shall we say?"

He shrank back with his uncle into the drawing-room, and the door swung
to, while the next moment they heard the front door open and Lady
Lisle's voice.

"Has Sir Hilton returned?"

"Yes, my lady," replied Jane.

"Ha!"

Lady Lisle hurried into the drawing-room with stately stride, but she
looked round in vain, and faced Lady Tilborough and Doctor Granton, who
had followed her in, for the late occupants of the room had disappeared.

So vast is woman's power over man.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

FURTHER IN.

The sound of his wife's voice had a wonderful effect upon Sir Hilton for
the moment, and, turning sharply, he rushed out of the drawing-room and
down the passage leading to the servants' portion of the house.

"Here, Sam," cried Syd, "come on and stop him. He's going into another
fit."

The boy dashed after his uncle, closely followed by the trainer, and
they overtook him in the pale light of the kitchen, whose window faced
the east, standing, panting hard, with his hand upon the table, where he
was collared by one on each side.

"What are you doing that for?" he cried.

"Never you mind, Sir Hilton. You've got to stop here."

"That's right, uncle. Come, steady! No larks."

"Larks, sir? Let go. I insist. Let go, I tell you. I'm going to meet
your aunt, Syd. I must have some explanation with her about all this."

"Well, if you come to that, Sir Hilton, that's what I want too about my
gal. If it's all the same, I'll go back first."

"That you don't," cried Syd, shifting his hold from uncle to
father-in-law. "There'll be row enough wi