rough his,
he strode on in silence, holding it closely pinioned against his heart.
When they reached the house, they were both white and breathless. Nora
opened the door for them.

"Oh, Miss Ruth, do hurry up!" she cried, wringing her hands as the
doctor threw off his coat and hat; "all she does now is to stare at us
with her teeth all chattering."

The doctor sprang up three steps at a time, Ruth quickly following.

The room was in a blaze of light; Mrs. Levice sat up in bed, her
large dark eyes staring into vacancy, her face as white as the snowy
counterpane.

Kemp looked like a pillar of strength as he came up to the bedside.

"Well?" he said, holding out his hand and smiling at her.

As he took her hand in his, she strove to speak; but the sobbing result
was painful.

"None of that!" he said sternly, laying his hand on her shoulders. "If
you try, you can stop this. Now see, I am holding you. Look at me, and
you will understand you must quiet down."

He used his well-known power of magnetism. Gradually the quivering
shoulders quieted beneath his hands; the staring eyes relaxed, and he
gently laid her head upon the pillow.

"Don't go away!" she implored piteously, as she felt his hands move from
her.

"No, indeed," he replied in a bright, soothing voice; "see, I am going
to give you a few drops of this, which will make you all right in a
short time. Now then, open your mouth."

"But, Doctor, I wish to speak to you."

"After you have taken this and rested awhile."

"And you won't go away?" she persisted.

"I shall stay right here." She obediently swallowed the dose; and as he
drew up an easy-chair and seated himself, the drawn lines on her face
relaxed.

"It is so strengthening to have you here," she murmured.

"It will be more strengthening for you to close your eyes."

Ruth, who still stood in her wet clothes, lowered the lights.

"You had better change your clothes immediately," said Kemp, in a low
tone from his chair.

She did not look at him, but at his voice she left the room.

Quickly removing her wet garments, she slipped into a loose, dull
red gown. As the dry warmth of it reached her senses, she suddenly
remembered that his feet might be wet. She lit a candle, and going into
Louis's room, appropriated a pair of slippers that stood in his closet.

It was now past midnight; but no thought of sleep occurred to her till,
entering her mother's room, she perceived in the semi-darkness tha