the box-office, a
narrow hole that James could just sit in, and there he found the
invalid in the same posture, semi-conscious. He gave him more
brandy.

"I'm all right, I tell you," said James, his eyes flaring. "Leave me
alone." But he looked anything but all right.

Mr. May hurried for Alvina. When the daughter entered the ticket
place, her father was again in a state of torpor.

"Father," she said, shaking his shoulder gently. "What's the
matter."

He murmured something, but was incoherent. She looked at his face.
It was grey and blank.

"We shall have to get him home," she said. "We shall have to get a
cab."

"Give him a little brandy," said Mr. May.

The boy was sent for the cab, James swallowed a spoonful of brandy.
He came to himself irritably.

"What? What," he said. "I won't have all this fuss. Go on with the
performance, there's no need to bother about me." His eye was wild.

"You must go home, father," said Alvina.

"Leave me alone! Will you leave me alone! Hectored by women all my
life--hectored by women--first one, then another. I won't stand
it--I won't stand it--" He looked at Alvina with a look of frenzy as
he lapsed again, fell with his head on his hands on his
ticket-board. Alvina looked at Mr. May.

"We must get him home," she said. She covered him up with a coat,
and sat by him. The performance went on without music. At last the
cab came. James, unconscious, was driven up to Woodhouse. He had to
be carried indoors. Alvina hurried ahead to make a light in the dark
passage.

"Father's ill!" she announced to Miss Pinnegar.

"Didn't I say so!" said Miss Pinnegar, starting from her chair.

The two women went out to meet the cab-man, who had James in his
arms.

"Can you manage?" cried Alvina, showing a light.

"He doesn't weigh much," said the man.

"Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu!" went Miss Pinnegar's tongue, in a rapid
tut-tut of distress. "What have I said, now," she exclaimed. "What
have I said all along?"

James was laid on the sofa. His eyes were half-shut. They made him
drink brandy, the boy was sent for the doctor, Alvina's bed was
warmed. The sick man was got to bed. And then started another vigil.
Alvina sat up in the sick room. James started and muttered, but did
not regain consciousness. Dawn came, and he was the same. Pneumonia
and pleurisy and a touch of meningitis. Alvina drank her tea, took a
little breakfast, and went to bed at about nine o'clock in the
morning, leaving