rse, and have been carried a
considerable distance before, somehow, it was stopped. Without doubt,
she had had a very narrow escape. Her anger seemed to be the result of
nerves upset and mortified vanity; she wished to show Mrs. Abbott that
she could drive--the explanation of the whole matter. Harvey was vexed
at such a piece of childishness; irritated, too, by the outbreak of
temper with which Alma had replied to his very natural alarm. Of
course, he would say nothing more; it would be interesting to await the
outcome of his wife's mature reflection on her folly.

As he stepped into the house, something like a cry for help sounded
from above stairs. He shouted, 'What's that?' and in the same moment
Mary Abbott called to him that Mrs. Rolfe had fainted. On rushing up,
he found Mary with difficulty supporting Alma's unconscious form.

'I saw she could hardly get upstairs,' said Mrs. Abbott. 'Just here on
the landing she gave a moan and fell back. I was luckily close by her.'

They carried her into her room, and gave what help they could whilst
the doctor was being summoned. In a few minutes Alma regained
consciousness, and declared herself quite well again; but when she
tried to rise, strength failed her; she began to moan in physical
distress. Harvey went downstairs, whilst Mrs. Abbott and Ruth tended
the sufferer.

Their ordinary medical man was far away among the hills; his assistant
had to be searched for, and came only after the lapse of two hours, by
which time Rolfe had worked himself into a fever. Whilst Mrs. Abbott,
faint with agitation and weariness, took a hurried meal, he went to the
bedside, and tried to learn whether Alma was suffering merely from
shock, or had sustained an actual injury; but she still nursed her
grievance against him, and would say very little. Why did not the
doctor come? She wished to see the doctor; no one else was of any use.

'Go down and have lunch with Mrs. Abbott properly. Do go, please; I
hate all this fuss, and it's quite unnecessary. Let me be alone till
the doctor comes.'

Before the arrival of Dr Evans's assistant she again fainted, and upon
that followed an attack of hysteria. When at length the medical man had
seen her, Harvey received an adequate, but far from reassuring,
explanation of the state of things. At nightfall Dr Evans came in
person, and was with the patient for a long time. He spoke less gravely
of the case, offered a lucid diagnosis, and thought that the