othing by provoking her. So he told the servant that he wished to
see Mr. George Bertram.

As it happened, George and Lady Harcourt were together, and Miss
Baker was keeping watch with the sick man upstairs. The drawing-room
was close to the hall, and Caroline's eager ear caught the tones of
her husband's voice.

"It is Sir Henry," she said, becoming suddenly pale, and rising to
her feet, as though prepared to retreat to some protection. Bertram's
duller ear could not hear him, but he also rose from his chair. "Are
you sure it is he?"

"I heard his voice plainly," said Caroline, in a tremulous whisper.
"Do not leave me, George. Whatever happens, do not leave me." They
called each other now by their Christian names, as cousins should
do; and their intercourse with each other had never been other than
cousinly since that parting in Eaton Square.

And then the door was opened, and the maid-servant, in the glummest
of voices, announced that Sir Henry wanted to see Mr. George.

"Show him into the dining-room," said George; and then following the
girl after a minute's interval, he found himself once more in the
presence of his old friend.

Sir Henry was even darker looking, and his brow still more forbidding
than at that last interview at George's chambers. He was worn and
care-marked, and appeared to be ten years older than was really the
case. He did not wait till George should address him, but began at
once:--

"Bertram," said he, with a voice intended to be stern, "there are two
persons here I want to see, your uncle and my wife."

"I make no objection to your seeing either, if they are willing to
see you."

"Yes; but that won't do for me. My duty compels me to look after them
both, and I mean to do so before I leave Hadley."

"I will send your name to them at once," said George; "but it must
depend on them whether they will see you." And so saying, he rang the
bell, and sent a message up to his uncle.

Nothing was said till the girl returned. Sir Henry paced the room
backward and forward, and George stood leaning with his back against
the chimney-piece. "Mr. Bertram says that he'll see Sir Henry, if
he'll step up stairs," said the girl.

"Very well. Am I to go up now?"

"If you please, sir."

Bertram followed Sir Henry to the door, to show him the room; but the
latter turned round on the stairs, and said that he would prefer to
have no one present at the interview.

"I will only open the door for you