d at the doctor.

"Over-work and anxiety, my dear madam," he said. "I shall have to give
him a little advice. Now, if you will excuse me, I'll go up-stairs."

"But doctor," cried Katrine; "is Mr Capel really better?"

"It is hardly just to call him better while this delirium continues; but
you know what Sir Ronald said."

He went out of the dining-room, and ascended the stairs, leaving Katrine
with Artis.

"Where are you going?" said the latter.

"Up to Capel's room."

"What, again?"

"Yes," she said, "again."

"But what have you found out?"

"Wait and see."

"Wait and see? I'm sick of it all," he cried, angrily. "I feel as if I
were buried alive, and to make matters worse, you're always away. Look
here, I don't like your going and nursing that fellow."

"You stupid boy!" she said softly; and she turned upon him a look that
made him catch her in his arms and press his lips to hers.

For a few moments she made no resistance, but seemed to be returning his
caress. Then, with an angry wrench, she extricated herself from his
grasp.

"How dare you!" she cried.

"How dare? Oh, come, that's good."

"You are acting like a fool!"

She sailed out of the room just as Preenham opened the door, and as he
drew back for her to pass, Artis threw himself into a chair, while
Katrine slowly ascended the stairs, listening intently to the low murmur
of voices in the library.

A few minutes before, the quiet, grave-looking professional nurse had
ascended to the sick room from the housekeeper's room, where she had
just partaken of her dinner, and found, as she entered, silently, Lydia
on her knees by the bedside, with a straight bar of light from the
window throwing her into bold relief against the dark curtains.

The nurse advanced softly, and glanced at Capel, who seemed to be
sleeping easily, and then lightly touched Lydia on the shoulder.

"Asleep, miss?" she said.

Lydia raised her white face, haggard and livid with sleeplessness and
anxiety.

"No," she said softly, as she let herself sink into the low chair at the
bed's head. "No, not asleep."

"But you are quite done up, miss," said the nurse. "Now, pray do go and
lie down for a few hours. He is better, I'm sure of it. I do know,
indeed. I've seen so much of this sort of thing. I was in the French
hospitals all through the war."

"But, are you sure?"

"I'm quite certain, miss. Now, you can't go on like this. You must
have rest. Take my