lips and brow brought her to
herself; in a few minutes she was able to look up at him and smile, and
presently declared herself quite well. But Evandale was very grave.

"Are you often faint, Enid?" he asked.

"Rather often; but this"--with a little tinge of color in her pale
cheeks--"this is just a common kind of faintness--it is not like the
other."

"I know; but I do not like you to turn faint in this way. May I ask you
a few questions about yourself?"

"Oh, yes--I know that you are quite a doctor!" said Enid, smiling at him
with perfect confidence.

So the Rector put his questions--and very strange questions some of them
were, thought Enid, though he was wonderfully correct in guessing what
she felt. Yes, she was nearly always faint and sick; she had a strange
burning sensation sometimes in her chest; she had violent palpitations,
and odd feelings of a terrible fright and depression. But the doctor had
assured her that she had not the faintest trace of organic disease of
the heart; and that these functional disturbances would speedily pass
away. Mr. Ingledew had sounded her and told her that she need not be
alarmed--and of course he was a very clever man.

"Enid," said the Rector at last, after a long pause, and rather as if he
was trying to make a sort of joke which, after all, was not amusing, "I
am going to ask you what you will think a very foolish question. Have
you an enemy in the house--here, at Beechfield Hall?"

Enid's eyes dilated with a look of terror.

"Why--why do you ask?"

"It is a ridiculous question, is it not? But I thought that perhaps
somebody had been playing on your nerves, and wanting to frighten you
about yourself. Is there anybody who might possibly do so?"

Her lips parted twice before any articulate word issued from them. At
last he caught the answer--

"Only Flossy."

He was silent for a moment.

"Do you take any medicine?" he asked, at length.

"Yes; Mr. Ingledew sent me some."

"What is it like?"

"I don't know; it is not disagreeable. Flossy looked at it, and said
that it was a calming mixture."

"I should like to see the prescription; perhaps it does not quite suit
you. And who gives it to you?"

"I take it myself; it is kept in my bed-room."

"And what else do you drink and eat?" said the Rector, smiling. "You
see, I am quite a learned physician. I want to know all about your
habits."

"Oh, I eat and drink just what other people do."

"Are you thirsty at