ed on a tiger skin, turned its head and then rose stiffly and
came towards her. As its slender nose touched her dress, she saw the
poor thing was blind. The next moment a cheerful-looking, grey-haired
woman hurried towards her, followed by two maids.

"What is it that Phoebe tells me, ma'am; Mr. Gaythorne has met with an
accident? Times out of number I have begged and prayed him not to go
out alone; but he was not to be persuaded."

"He is down there by the gate, the trees hide him," returned Olivia,
hastily. "I think it would be best to take an arm-chair, if you think
we could carry him in. He is in dreadful pain and cannot walk a step
farther."

"Phoebe, tell cook to light the lantern, and then you two girls bring
one of the study chairs--the lantern first, mind.

"Now, ma'am, perhaps we had better find my master, and the lasses will
follow us. There are four of us, and Mr. Gaythorne is not so very
heavy, and we will have him on the library couch in no time."

CHAPTER IV.

DR. LUTTRELL'S FIRST PATIENT.

"Sudden the worst, turns the best to the brave,"--_Browning_.

Olivia felt as if she were dreaming as she followed the little
procession down the dark garden-path. Once she pinched her wrist
slightly to assure herself that she was awake. Mrs. Crampton held the
lantern, and the cook and the two maids carried the arm-chair, with
jolting uneven footsteps, that brought a suppressed groan to Mr.
Gaythorne's lips. As they lifted him on the couch he looked so white
that Olivia thought he was going to faint, and begged the housekeeper
to give him some wine; he was evidently in severe pain.

"It would be better not to touch the foot until the doctor comes," she
observed. And then Mrs. Crampton looked perplexed.

"My master does not hold with doctors, ma'am. I don't remember one
ever crossing the threshold since poor Miriam had typhoid fever. The
foot is swelling already, and it will be a job to get the boot off.
Ah, I thought so"--as Mr. Gaythorne winced and motioned her away--"he
will be afraid of one touching it!"

"My husband lives just opposite--the corner house with the red lamp in
Harbut Street. He is a doctor and very clever, and I am nearly sure
that he is in just now." Olivia spoke a little breathlessly and
anxiously; then she bent over the old man.

"If Mrs. Crampton does not know of another doctor would you mind one of
the maids running across the road for Dr. Luttrell? You are su