ike it; he wished to question the surgeon. Lady Isabel saw
that Mr. Carlyle was about to quit the room, and beckoned to him.

"Do not leave the house, Mr. Carlyle. When he wakes up, it may cheer him
to see you here; he liked you very much."

"I will not leave it, Lady Isabel. I did not think of doing so."

In time--it seemed an age--the medical men arrived from
Lynneborough--three of them--the groom had thought he could not summon
too many. It was a strange scene they entered upon: the ghastly peer,
growing restless again now, battling with his departing spirit, and the
gala robes, the sparkling gems adorning the young girl watching at his
side. They comprehended the case without difficulty; that she had been
suddenly called from some scene of gayety.

They stooped to look at the earl, and felt his pulse, and touched his
heart, and exchanged a few murmured words with Mr. Wainwright. Isabel
had stood back to give them place, but her anxious eyes followed
their every movement. They did not seem to notice her, and she stepped
forward.

"Can you do anything for him? Will he recover?"

They all turned at the address, and looked at her. One spoke; it was an
evasive answer.

"Tell me the truth!" she implored, with feverish impatience: "you must
not trifle with me. Do you not know me? I am his only child, and I am
here alone."

The first thing was to get her away from the room, for the great change
was approaching, and the parting struggle between the body and the
spirit might be one of warfare--no sight for her. But in answer to their
suggestion that she should go, she only leaned her head upon the pillow
by her father and moaned in despair.

"She must be got out of the room," cried one of the physicians, almost
angrily. "Ma'am," turning suddenly upon Mrs. Mason, "are there no
reserves in the house--no one who can exert influence over the young
lady?"

"She has scarcely any relatives in the world," replied the housekeeper;
"no near ones; and we happen to be, just now, quite alone."

But Mr. Carlyle, seeing the urgency of the case, for the earl, with
every minute, grew more excited, approached and whispered her: "You are
as anxious as we can be for your father's recovery?"

"_As_ anxious!" she uttered reproachfully.

"You know what I would imply. Of course our anxiety can be as nothing to
yours."

"As nothing--_as nothing_. I think my heart will break."

"Then--forgive me--you should not oppose the wishes of