in a breath.

"He has not come back yet. I lay awake hour after hour listening, with
my door a little way open--I can hear the latch-key then--but--he did
not come."

Laura glanced at her visitor, and saw trouble coming in her face like a
cloud. "Oh, well, aunt, dear, it is not the first time."

"No, my dear," said the old lady, tightening her lips as she dropped a
lump of sugar outside a cup; "it is not the first time by a long way,
and I don't like it."

"Neither does Fred, I'm sure, poor fellow!" cried Laura, helping the ham
and eggs. "It is some serious case, Bel dear, and he'll come back tired
out for you to comfort him up. You'll often have it to do, for, poor
boy, he is called out a great deal."

At that moment Aunt Grace let the sugar-tongs fell with a clatter among
the cups, and burst into a fit of sobbing.

"Aunt dear!" cried Laura, jumping up to go to her side again; "what is
the matter?"

"I don't like it, my dear. His being out like that."

"Well, Fred doesn't either."

"Ah, but that's it. He does, and it's horrible; and I will not sit
still and see him deceive this poor, dear lamb."

"Mrs Crane!" cried Isabel, sitting up flushed with indignation.

"I can't help it, my dear. I should be a wicked woman if I did not
speak. I watched last night, and I saw her. One of those horridly
handsome, fashionable-looking ladies, and she carried him off just as if
she were leading him by a chain. I can't help it! I had a presentiment
then, and I'm obliged to speak. He hasn't come back, and I felt he
would not, and as sure as I'm alive he'll never come back again."

"Aunt!" cried Laura, passionately. "Shame--Bel dear, don't take any
notice of her."

But her words had no effect. Isabel had risen with her face scarlet,
then turning white as her lips parted to utter an indignant rebuke.

No words came, and covering her face with her hand she hurried out of
the room.

"Auntie!" cried Laura, passionately. "See what you've done. You're
right. It's quite time you made up your mind to die."

CHAPTER SIX.

IN DANGER.

As Chester turned and gazed in his patient's face, he felt that all was
over: and at that moment Paddy, startled by Marion's excited words,
rushed across and caught his arm.

"Is he going?"

"Yes," cried Marion, passionately, "and he has been murdered. Rob, Rob,
my own darling, don't, don't leave me here to this! Rob! I cannot bear
it! Dr Chester! for pity's sake!