r from the
commissioners."

"But that cannot apply to his wife; to her who is one with him, for
better for worse, in sickness or health."

"It seems hard; but I have no discretion in the matter. The patient
only came yesterday--much excited. He is better to-day, and an
interview with you would excite him again."

"Oh no! no! no! I can always soothe him. I will be so mild, so gentle.
You can be present, and hear every word I say. I will only kiss him,
and tell him who has done this, and to be brave, for his wife watches
over him; and, sir, I will beg him to be patient, and not blame you nor
any of the people here."

"Very proper, very proper; but really this interview must be postponed
till you have an order, or Dr. Suaby returns. He can violate his own
rules if he likes; but I cannot, and, indeed, I dare not."

"Dare not let a lady see her husband? Then you are not a man. Oh, can
this be England? It is too inhuman."

Then she began to cry and wring her hands.

"This is very painful," said Mr. Salter, and left the room.

The respectable servant looked in soon after, and Lady Bassett told
him, between her sobs, that she had brought some clothes and things for
her husband. "Surely, sir," said she, "they will not refuse me that?"

"Lord, no, ma'am," said the man. "You can give them to the keeper and
nurse in charge of him."

Lady Bassett slipped a guinea into the man's hand directly. "Let me see
those people," said she.

The man winked, and vanished: he soon reappeared, and said, loudly,
"Now, madam, if you will order the things into the hall."

Lady Bassett came out and gave the order.

A short, bull-necked man, and rather a pretty young woman with a
flaunting cap, bestirred themselves getting down the things; and Mr.
Salter came out and looked on.

Lady Bassett called Mary Wells, and gave her a five-pound note to slip
into the man's hand. She telegraphed the girl, who instantly came near
her with an India rubber bath, and, affecting ignorance, asked her what
that was.

Lady Bassett dropped three sovereigns into the bath, and said, "Ten
times, twenty times that, if you are kind to him. Tell him it is his
cousin's doing, but his wife watches over him."

"All right," said the girl. "Come again when the doctor is here."

All this passed, in swift whispers, a few yards from Mr. Salter, and he
now came forward and offered his arm to conduct Lady Bassett to the
carriage.

But the wretched, heart-broken wi