the hall--a witness to an abrupt relaxation of discipline.

"Thank heavens you've come, sir," the old man said.

"Then you know," Garth answered. "What's wrong here?"

But before the other could reply a man's voice, uncertain, barely
audible, came from the lighted room to the left.

"Who is that? If it is Mr. Garth bring him to me at once."

Garth became aware of the rustling of skirts. He stepped into the room,
and, scarcely within the doorway, met a young woman whose unquestionable
beauty impressed him less than the trouble which, to an extent,
distorted it. Her greeting, too, almost identical with the old
servant's, disturbed him more than his. It was reminiscent of the
desolate landscape he had seen from the train, of the forest loneliness
through which he had just driven, of the gaping scarlet that had torn
across the cloud-filled sky.

"I'm glad you've come. I--I was afraid you mightn't make it."

Garth's glance appraised the room. It was a huge apartment, running the
width of the house. Casement windows rose from the floor to the ceiling.
An oak door in the farther wall, towards the rear, was closed. There
were many book-cases. A fire burned drowsily in a deep hearth. Before it
stood a writing-table with an inefficient lamp, and at its side--the
point where Garth's eyes halted--a man sat--huddled.

The man wore a dressing gown and slippers. His hair was untidy. From his
cadaverous face eyes gleamed as if with a newly-born hope. He put his
hands on the chair arms and started to rise, then, with a sigh, he sank
back again.

"You'll excuse me," he said. "I've not been myself lately. It is an
effort for me to get up, but I am glad to see you, Mr. Garth--very
glad."

Garth understood now why the voice had barely carried to the hall. It
lacked body. It left the throat reluctantly. It crowded the room with a
scarcely vibrating atmosphere of dismay. Garth asked himself hotly if he
had been summoned as an antidote to the airy delusions of an invalid.

A stifled sound behind him caused him to turn swiftly. He was in time to
see the distortion of the woman's features increase, to watch the
resistless tears sparkle in her eyes and fall, to be shamed by the
laborious sobs which, after she had covered her face, shook her in
freeing themselves.

He advanced, at a loss, shocked by this unforeseen breakdown. He took
Alden's hand, but the other appeared to have forgotten his presence.

"Don't, Cora," he mumbled. "Yo