f being my father's daughter until Mr. Lepel
is a little stronger--if the doctor says that I must not leave him yet.
When he is better, I vow--I swear that you shall see and hear no more of
me! I shall leave the country, and you will never be troubled by me
again. But, till then, have pity! Let me help to nurse him; he has been
my best friend in the whole world, and I have never yet been able to do
anything for him! When he is better, I will go away. Till then, for
pity's sake, sir, let me stay!"

Her voice broke; she clasped her hands before her and held down her head
to hide her tears. The General, brought to a sudden stop by her appeal
to him, eyed her with a mixture of native pity and long-cultivated
detestation. He could not but be sorry for her, although she was
Westwood's daughter and, by all reports, not much better perhaps than
she should be; for he firmly believed in the truth of all Flossy's
malignant hints and innuendos. But Cynthia was a handsome woman, and the
General was weak; he could not bear to see a handsome woman cry.

"My good girl," he stammered--and then Flossy's significant smile made
him stammer all the more--"my girl, I--I do not wish to blame
you--personally, of course--not your fault at all--we can't help its
being painful, you know."

"Painful--yes," cried Cynthia eagerly; "but pain is sometimes necessary!
You will not drive me away from Hubert's bedside if I can be of any use
to him?"

"No, no--I suppose not," said the General, melting in spite of himself.
"I wouldn't for the world do anything to harm poor Hubert. Suppose we
hear what the doctor says?"

Cynthia's hand was on the bell immediately, and Jenkins showed himself
at the door without delay.

"Jenkins," she said, "it is very important that we should have the
doctor here at once. Mrs. Vane--General Vane--want----"

"Give your own orders, General," said Flossy abruptly. She could not
lose a chance of annoying and insulting Cynthia.

"H'm, ha--the doctor, my man," said the General, rather taken aback by
the demand upon him--"get us the doctor as soon as you can. Tell
him--tell him that Mr. Lepel's relatives are here, and no doubt he will
come at once."

There was a little silence in the room when Jenkins had disappeared upon
his errand. The General stood, with his hands clasped behind him,
looking out of a window; Mrs. Vane had sunk into a chair, in which she
lay back, her graceful neck turned aside, as if she wanted to avoi