nifestation of oppression and
suffering. He made attempts at questions, insisting on being assured
that no letter nor call had been kept from him; he even sent for the
cards that had been left, and examined them, and he wanted to renew the
conversation with his father; but Lord Martindale silenced him at
once, and left the room. He looked so much disappointed that Violet was
grieved, and thought, in spite of the doctors, that it might have
been better to have run the risk of letting him speak, for the sake of
setting his mind at rest.

Lord Martindale, however, saw so much peril in permitting a word to be
uttered, that he deemed it safer to absent himself, and went out to try
to trace out Mr. Fotheringham, and ask whether he could throw any light
on Arthur's trouble.

The children were out of doors, and Theodora was profiting by the
interval of quiet to write to her mother, when she heard James announce,
'Mr. Fotheringham.'

She looked up, then down. Her first thought was of her brother; the next
brought the whole flood of remembrances, and she could not meet his eye.

He advanced, but there was no friendly greeting. As to a stranger, he
said, 'I hope Colonel Martindale is better?'

Could it be himself? She gave a hasty glance. It was; he chose to disown
her; to meet her without even a hand held out! Rallying her fortitude,
she made answer, 'Thank you; we hope--'

She got no further--her hand was grasped. 'Theodora! I did not know
you.'

She had forgotten her altered looks! Relieved, she smiled, and said,
'Yes, I am a strange figure. They think Arthur a little better to-day,
thank you.'

'How has it been?'

He listened to the details with eagerness, that dismissed from her mind
the sickening apprehension of his knowing of any hidden evil; then,
saying he was pressed for time, begged her to ask Mrs. Martindale to let
him speak to her on a matter of such importance that he must venture on
disturbing her.

Theodora beckoned to Violet at the door, hoping to elude Arthur's
notice; but any attempt at secrecy made him more distrustful, and
the name had hardly been whispered before she was startled by
hearing--'Bring him here.'

Much frightened, the wife and sister expostulated, thus making him more
determined; he almost rose on his elbow to enforce his wishes, and at
last said, 'You do me more harm by preventing it.'

Violet felt the same; and in fear and trembling begged Theodora to call
Percy. She knew herse