ith her fruit, unheeding the conversation around her,
yet dimly conscious that a passage-at-arms was still being carried on
between Mr Farrell and Jack; the former indulging in caustic remarks at
the young man's expense, Jack replying with more or less irritation.

A sudden gleam of excitement on Victor's face recalled her wandering
thoughts, in time to hear Jack reply quickly--

"You are quite right, I am an invalid no longer. I walked about most of
the afternoon and feel none the worse. I can manage even the stairs
with a little help. In another few days I shall be ready for work.
There will then be no need for me any longer to trespass--"

Suddenly he stopped; and though Mr Farrell sat waiting in silence for
several moments, he did not attempt to finish the sentence; for another
gentle pressure on the elbow had reminded him of the wisdom of self-
control. He sat with downcast eyes and firmly shut lips until Mr
Farrell's mocking voice broke the silence.

"Since Mr Melland has nothing more to say, it would perhaps be as well
if we made a move. I will ask you to excuse me for the rest of the
evening, as I am feeling fatigued."

He rose as he spoke and turned towards the door, but even as he did so
he staggered, and uttered an exclamation of pain. Mrs Wolff echoed the
cry and sank back in her chair helpless and unnerved; but in an instant
Victor was at his side, supporting him with a strong, steady arm.

"Send for James," he said, addressing the butler in the quiet tones of
one who knows how to keep his head in an emergency. "Let me help you
into the hall, sir; you will have more air there. Lean upon me!"

They moved slowly forward together, the bowed figure seeming momentarily
to shrink in stature, while the glimpse of cheek, as he turned towards
the door, was so ashen in colour that the girls clasped each other's
hands in dismay. Then James appeared, alert, composed, capable, a
carrying-chair was brought forward from some secret hiding-place, and
the invalid was borne upstairs to his room.

"It's one of his `turns,' miss," the butler explained to Ruth. "He used
to have them constantly, but it's the first since you came. We'll send
down for the doctor, and he'll probably stay all night. You can never
tell how things may go!"

Jack Melland limped off towards the deserted smoking-room. Five minutes
before, as he sat resolutely silent, he had determined to go to Mr
Farrell as he sat in the library tha