the army?"

"No: formerly in the navy."

"And you and he had a long talk together?"

Randal's tones began to betray irritation. "No," he said "the Captain
went away early."

Mrs. Presty's vigorous intellect discovered an improbability here. "Then
how came you to feel interested in him?" she objected.

Even Randal's patience gave way. "I can't account for it," he said
sharply. "I only know I took a liking to Captain Bennydeck." He left
Mrs. Presty and sat down by his brother. "You know I feel for you," he
said, taking Linley's hand. "Try to hope."

The bitterness of the father's despair broke out in his answer. "I
can bear other troubles, Randal, as well as most men. This affliction
revolts me. There's something so horribly unnatural in the child being
threatened by death, while the parents (who should die first) are alive
and well--" He checked himself. "I had better say no more, I shall only
shock you."

The misery in his face wrung the faithful heart of his wife. She forgot
the conciliatory expressions which she had prepared herself to use.
"Hope, my dear, as Randal tells you," she said, "because there _is_
hope."

His face flushed, his dim eyes brightened. "Has the doctor said it?" he
asked.

"Yes."

"Why haven't I been told of it before?"

"When I sent for you, I heard that you had gone out."

The explanation passed by him unnoticed--perhaps even unheard. "Tell me
what the doctor said," he insisted; "I want it exactly, word for word."

She obeyed him to the letter.

The sinister change in his face, as the narrative proceeded was observed
by both the other persons present, as well as by his wife. She waited
for a kind word of encouragement. He only said, coldly: "What have you
done?"

Speaking coldly on her side, she answered: "I have sent the carriage to
fetch Miss Westerfield."

There was a pause. Mrs. Presty whispered to Randal: "I knew she would
come back again! The Evil Genius of the family--that's what I call Miss
Westerfield. The name exactly fits her!"

The idea in Randal's mind was that the name exactly fitted Mrs. Presty.
He made no reply; his eyes rested in sympathy on his sister-in-law. She
saw, and felt, his kindness at a time when kindness was doubly precious.
Her tones trembled a little as she spoke to her silent husband.

"Don't you approve of what I have done, Herbert?"

His nerves were shattered by grief and suspense; but he made an effort
this time to speak gently. "How c