o get a faint inkling of what went on in
Lord Radclyffe's room. She had heard her uncle's step on the landing,
the few hurried sentences exchanged with the doctor before entering
the sick chamber, the opening and shutting of a door. Then again the
lighter footsteps of the nurses, who had evidently been sent out of
the room, when Sir Thomas went in. Louisa heard the faint hum of their
voices as they descended the stairs, even a suppressed giggle now and
then: they were happy no doubt at the few moments of respite from
constant watching, which had apparently been accorded them.

They ran quickly down the last flight of stairs, and across the hall
toward the servants' quarters. Their chattering was heard faintly
echoing through the baize doors. Then nothing more.

Less than a quarter of an hour went by, and again she heard the
opening and shutting of a door, and men's footsteps on the landing.

Louisa could not believe either her eyes which were gazing on the
clock, or her ears, which heard now quite distinctly the voice of Sir
Thomas descending the stairs, and Doctor Newington's more pompous
tones in reply.

"The interview," remarked Mr. Warren, "did not last very long."

But already she had risen from her chair, desperately anxious,
wondering what the meaning could be of the shortness of the interview.
She was not kept long in suspense, for a moment or two later Sir
Thomas Ryder came in followed by Doctor Newington. One glance at her
uncle's face told her the whole disappointing truth, even before he
spoke.

"It was useless, my dear," he said, "and Doctor Newington was quite
right. Lord Radclyffe, I am sorry to say, is hardly conscious. He is,
evidently, unable to understand what is said, and certainly quite
incapable of making any effort to reply."

"I was afraid so," added Doctor Newington in his usual conventional
tones, "the patient, you see, is hardly conscious. His mind is
dormant. He just knows me and his nurses, but he did not recognize Sir
Thomas."

Louisa said nothing: the blank, hopeless disappointment following on
the excitement of the past two hours was exceedingly difficult to
bear. The ruling passion--strong even in the midst of despair--the
pride that was in her, alone kept her from an utter breakdown. She was
grateful to her uncle, who very tactfully interposed his tall figure
between her and the indifferent eyes of the doctor. Mr. Warren looked
more sympathetic than ever, and that was just as