nce. It is done now.
Yes, I have done it, and it has divided us for ever. Why did you make me
speak, Cynthia? He was not miserable--he was happy. But I am to be
miserable for ever and ever now. There is no way out of the misery--no
way out of it--darkness and loneliness all my life, and worse
afterwards. Cynthia, Cynthia, you are sending me to perdition!"

He half rose from his bed, and made as if he would struggle with her.
Jenkins came to the rescue; but Cynthia would not move aside.

"Lie down, dearest," she was saying--"lie down and rest. Cynthia is
here--Cynthia is with you; she will never leave you any more unless you
send her away. Lie down, my darling, and try to rest."

He did not understand the words; but the sweet rhythm of her voice
caught his ear. He fell back upon the pillows, staring, helpless,
subdued. She kept her cool hand upon his brow.

"Is that Cynthia?" he said suddenly.

"Yes, dearest, it is Cynthia."

"How kind of her to come!" said Hubert, looking away from the girl as if
Cynthia were on the other side of the room. "But she should not look so
angrily at me. I have done what I could, you know. It is all right now,
Cynthia, I have done what I could--I have saved him--indeed I have!
I'll take the punishment--no way out of it but that! A life sentence--a
life sentence for me!"

The words died away upon his lips in a confused babble that they could
not understand. He murmured inarticulately for a time, but there came
long pauses between the words, his eyelids drooped a little, and he grew
perceptibly less flushed. In about half an hour the doctor came into the
room. He cast a swift look at Cynthia, and another at his patient; then
he nodded sagaciously.

"Better," he said curtly. "I thought so. Some more ice, Jenkins. He has
been quieter since you came, I conclude, madam?"

Cynthia bowed her head.

"You are the lady for whom he has been asking so often? I know your
face--Miss Cynthia West, I believe? Can you stay?"

"Yes," said Cynthia, without hesitation.

"If you keep him as quiet as that, you will save his life," said the
doctor; and then he beckoned Jenkins out of the sick-room, and gave him
various stringent orders and recommendations--to all which Jenkins lent
an attentive if a somewhat puzzled ear.

The doctor looked in again before he went away. Mr. Lepel was lying back
on his pillows, perfectly motionless and silent; Miss West, kneeling
beside the bed, still kept one hand on