et breathing, ignorant of the fact that his own wife was wishing him
out of the way, praying for death to claim him. Praying? What if the
prayers of the wife had in some way _wished_ an illness upon the
unsuspecting old man? Of course that was purely grotesque, yet as the
ghastly notion occurred to her, Esther felt a sudden longing to confide
in someone--Miss Clifford, the son, even the doctor....

Good heavens, what an idea! The mere thought of mentioning this sort
of thing to Dr. Sartorius threw a dash of cold water over her heated
fancy. She could picture the scornful indifference with which he would
receive her communication, she could almost hear him say, "Well, what
of it? How many wives do you suppose are daily wishing their husbands
would die? Does it shorten anyone's life? We don't live in the Middle
Ages!"

At thought of the man of science, rational and cynical, she felt her
balance restored. She was even able to laugh at herself for getting so
worked up. Granting her suspicion was true, Lady Clifford could not
harm the old man by thinking, not even if she cherished an effigy stuck
full of pins. Such things did not happen....

"Nurse!"

She started violently. Without the least warning movement the ill man
had roused to consciousness and was calling her feebly.

"Are you there, nurse?"

She went quickly to his side.

"Yes, certainly, Sir Charles. Did you want anything?"

"I suppose it must be nearly lunch-time?"

"In half an hour. Are you hungry?"

"Oh, I don't know. It depends. If I'm only to have that disgusting
milk again, I don't mind waiting."

She smiled at his petulance.

"You mustn't have any solid food, you know," she told him gently.
"You'll have to be on a liquid diet for some time."

"I know all about that," he replied with a fretful movement of the
head. "It's the milk I detest. I was sick of it before ever I was
taken ill. I've had so much of the damned stuff."

"Have you?"

"Oh, yes, gallons. The doctor prescribed it for me several months ago,
to try to put some flesh on me."

"And did it do you good?"

"I gained a few pounds, certainly, but I got to hate the very sight of
it."

He turned restlessly, seeking a more comfortable position, and a grim
smile flickered over his sallow face.

"I did my utmost to dodge it, but it was no good. First it was my
sister who kept forcing the stuff on me, then my wife took a hand.
Between the two of them I hadn't a