ould support that. But what cuts me to the heart, Julian, is, that she
does not appear to trust me and to love me as she did. She seems to be
doubtful of me; she seems to be frightened of me. If I did not know that
it was simply impossible that such a thing could be, I should really
think she suspected me of believing what that wretch said of her. In one
word (and between ourselves), I begin to fear she will never get over
the fright which caused that fainting-fit. There is serious mischief
somewhere; and, try as I may to discover it, it is mischief beyond my
finding."

"Can the doctor do nothing?"

Lady Janet's bright black eyes answered before she replied in words,
with a look of supreme contempt.

"The doctor!" she repeated, disdainfully. "I brought Grace back last
night in sheer despair, and I sent for the doctor this morning. He is at
the head of his profession; he is said to be making ten thousand a year;
and he knows no more about it than I do. I am quite serious. The great
physician has just gone away with two guineas in his pocket. One guinea,
for advising me to keep her quiet; another guinea for telling me to
trust to time. Do you wonder how he gets on at this rate? My dear boy,
they all get on in the same way. The medical profession thrives on two
incurable diseases in these modern days--a He-disease and a She-disease.
She-disease--nervous depression; He-disease--suppressed gout. Remedies,
one guinea, if _you_ go to the doctor; two guineas if the doctor goes
to _you_. I might have bought a new bonnet," cried her ladyship,
indignantly, "with the money I have given to that man! Let us change the
subject. I lose my temper when I think of it. Besides, I want to know
something. Why did you go abroad?"

At that plain question Julian looked unaffectedly surprised. "I wrote to
explain," he said. "Have you not received my letter?"

"Oh, I got your letter. It was long enough, in all conscience; and, long
as it was, it didn't tell me the one thing I wanted to know."

"What is the 'one thing'?"

Lady Janet's reply pointed--not too palpably at first--at that second
motive for Julian's journey which she had suspected Julian of concealing
from her.

"I want to know," she said, "why you troubled yourself to make your
inquiries on the Continent _in person?_ You know where my old courier is
to be found. You have yourself pronounced him to be the most intelligent
and trustworthy of men. Answer me honestly--could you no