t her heart sink with some
undefined fear, and presently rang for his valet.

"Saville," she said, as the man entered the room, "I do not know what
is the matter with Sir Hugh to-night, he sleeps so heavily and looks
so strange. If it were not so late, and I were sure that he would not
mind it, I would send for Doctor Martin."

"Nonsense," exclaimed her husband, drowsily, for this threat of
sending for the doctor had roused him effectually, and he managed to
sit up and look at them.

"Why, what a white shaking child you look, you are not fit to be up so
late, Fay; why don't you take more care of yourself."

"I was so frightened, dear," she whispered; "I could not bear to leave
you. I am sure you are ill, Hugh; do let Saville help you to bed."

"Oh, is that Saville? I thought--I thought--well, never mind. There is
nothing the matter with me, Saville, is there?"

"No, Sir Hugh; only it is late, and I expect you are tired, as my lady
said."

"But she said I was ill"--very querulously; "I have never had a day's
illness in my life, have I, Saville? Mrs. Heron will know; ask Mrs.
Heron--well, I think I may as well go to bed and have my sleep out."

And the next day he reiterated the same thing, that there was nothing
the matter with him, nothing; only they had not called him at the
usual time, and he had slept late; but he had no appetite, and did not
care to rise.

It was foolish to have tired himself out so, he owned. But if Fay were
good and would not scold him, she might sit with him and read
something amusing. But he did not tell her, or Saville either, that he
had tried to dress himself and had fallen back half fainting on the
bed, or of the strange horrible feelings that were creeping over him,
and that made him dread to be alone. Only Fay was very disappointed
that he did not seem to hear anything she read; or remember a word of
it. It was the shooting pain in his head, he told her; and then he
laughed in a way that was hardly mirthful, and said he would try to
sleep.

But that night he never closed his eyes, and yet the next day he would
not allow Fay to send for the doctor, though she begged piteously for
permission. Doctors were old women, he said, and Dr. Martin
especially. It was only the pain in his head that kept him awake and
made him so feverish; but toward the evening his eyes began to shine
beautifully, and he grew quite lively and talkative.

He said he was much better, if only his head and h