pillow exhausted.

The nurse had been aroused by the talking and stood in the doorway.
She gazed questioningly at the young man.

"Did you wake her up?"

"No, she roused up and insisted upon talking."

"She ought to be kept quiet. I'll give her another powder."

"Had you not better wait until the specialist arrives?"

"Well, we can do that--if he isn't delayed too long."

After that the time dragged heavily. Just before train time Raymond
took a coach to the depot and there met the specialist and told his
story as the pair were driven rapidly to the house.

"It is a purely nervous shock, undoubtedly," said the specialist. "I
will first find out from the nurse what the other doctor has given her."

He was soon in consultation with Martha Sampson. In the midst of this
Doctor Bird arrived. The local physician was willing enough to
transfer the case to new hands.

"I am of the opinion that she is guilty," he said in private to the
specialist. "Mr. Case, of course, thinks differently. You can figure
it out to suit yourself," and he told exactly what he had done and then
went away, not to return.

Doctor Fanning watched at the sufferer's side for over an hour, before
Margaret roused up again. The girl was very weak and spoke
disconnectedly, but always in the same strain. She went over the scene
at the inquest several times, and spoke of the blood on the engagement
ring, as if that was the crown of her misfortunes. Then she sat up
suddenly and looked at the new doctor.

"Are you the judge?" she demanded. "If you are I will tell you all. I
am guilty--they proved it! I am guilty! guilty! guilty!" she repeated
the words over and over again, until she fell back on the pillow as
before. Then she became delirious and it took both the nurse and
Raymond to hold her. The doctor speedily opened up his case of
medicines and gave her a hypodermic injection in the forearm. Then he
made an examination of the patient, lasting some time.

"I will be plain with you, Mr. Case," he said, drawing the young man to
another room. "This is a serious matter--a very serious matter indeed.
I believe you think the young lady innocent of the crime of which she
is accused?"

"I am willing to stake my life on it. She is raving now, that is all."

"Um!" The specialist nodded slowly and thoughtfully. "Well then, we
can only hope for the best. I had better stay with her, at least
to-day and to-morrow--there may be another