t almost drives me crazy."

"Why think of it, then? Or, if you must, remember that in his surpassing
unselfishness he saved you much anxiety; for you could not have helped
him."

"Not with our sympathy?"

"Not him, Ruth; to know that you suffered for him was--would have been
his crowning sorrow. Is there anything I can do now?"

"No, only think of yourself for a moment; perhaps you can rest a little,
for you need it, dear."

A flame of color burned in his cheek at the unusual endearment.

"I shall bring you a cup of tea presently," she said as she left him.

The morning passed into afternoon. Silence hung upon the house. A card
had been pinned under the door-bell; and the many friends, who in
the short time since the sick man's arrival had heard of his illness,
dropped in quietly and left as they came.

Dr. Kemp came in after luncheon. Mr. Levice was sleeping,--in all truth,
one could say easily, but the doctor counted much from the rest. He
expected Dr. H----- for a consultation. This he had done as a voucher
and a sort of comforting assurance that nothing would be left undone.
Dr. H----- came in blandly; he went out gravely. There was little to be
said.

Kemp walked thoughtfully upstairs after his colleague had left, and went
straight to Arnold's room. The freedom of the house was his; he seemed
to have established himself here simply through his earnestness and
devotion.

"Mr. Arnold," he said to the Frenchman, who quickly rose from his desk,
"I want you to prepare your aunt and your cousin for the worst. You
know this; but if he should have a spell of coughing, the end might be
sudden."

A cold pallor overspread Louis's face at the confirmation of his secret
fears.

He bowed slightly and cleared his throat before answering.

"There will be no necessity," he said; "my uncle intends doing so
himself."

"He must not hasten it by excitement," said Kemp, moving toward the
door.

"That is unavoidable," returned Arnold. "You must know he had an object
in hurrying home."

"I did not know; but I shall prevent any unnecessary effort to speak. If
you can do this for him, will you not?"

"I cannot."

"And you know what it is in detail?"

"I do."

"Then for his sake--"

"And for the others, he must be allowed to speak."

Kemp regarded him steadily, wondering wherein lay the impression of
concealed power which emanated from him. He left the room without
another word.

"Dr. H----- must have gone t