icking his way
carefully, he turned in the direction of the yard; but he had scarcely
reached it, when Clodagh's clear voice reached him, directing Burke as
to some provisions required from Muskeere.

On seeing her guest, she came forward at once. Her face looked brighter
and happier than he had seen it since his arrival. Her mercurial nature
had responded instantly to the apparent change in Asshlin.

"Oh, isn't it lovely that he's so much better?" she cried. "You must
have the gift of healing; it's like as if you had set a charm."

Milbanke made no response.

"Why don't you say something?" she asked quickly. "Don't you think he's
better? Doesn't the doctor think he's better?"

Her quick mind sprang like lightning from one conclusion to another.

"Mr. Milbanke," she added, "you're keeping something back! There's
something you don't like to say!"

Then at last Milbanke found voice.

"Indeed no, Miss Clodagh. You are wrong--quite wrong, believe me. There
is nothing to be alarmed at--nothing. It is only----"

"Only what?"

"Now don't be alarmed! I beg you not to be alarmed!" The sudden
whiteness that had overspread her face unnerved him. "It is only that
I, as a Londoner, am a little doubtful of your village doctor. A mere
prejudice, I know. But Gallagher is broadminded and willing to humour
me. And he--I--that is, we both think that another opinion will do no
harm. It's nothing to be alarmed at. Nothing, believe me! A mere
formality."

But Clodagh's lips had paled. She stood looking at him silently, her
large, questioning eyes reminding him disconcertingly of Asshlin's.

"Miss Clodagh," he said again, "don't be alarmed!--don't be alarmed!
It's only to satisfy an old sceptic----"

"Oh no, it isn't!" she said suddenly. "Oh no, it isn't! I know--I know
quite well. It means that he's going to die."

Her voice caught; and, with a swift movement, she turned and fled out
of the yard, leaving Milbanke pained, bewildered, and alarmed.

The afternoon passed in weary, monotonous waiting. Half an hour after
the conversation in the yard, Clodagh appeared in her father's room.
She was pale and subdued, and her eyelids looked suspiciously red, but
she took her place quietly at the foot of the bed. She sat very still,
her eyes fixed on Asshlin's face, apparently heedless of both the
nurse's deft movements and Milbanke's silent, unobtrusive presence. At
three o'clock the acute pains that had tormented the patient at
i