ur by hour, he lived in
dread of this story's being brought to light. This little unexpected
communication increased that dread fourfold.

"Have I shocked you?" asked Captain Kirton. "I may yet get the better of
it."

"I believe I was thinking of Maude," answered Hartledon, slowly
recovering from his stupor. "I never heard--I had no idea that Maude's
heart was not perfectly sound."

"And I don't know but that it is sound; it was only a fancy when she was
a child, and there might have been no real grounds for it. My mother is
full of crotchets on the subject of illness; and says she won't have
anything about heart-disease put into Maude's head. She is right, of
course, so far, in using precaution; so please remember that I am
suffering from any disorder but that," concluded the young officer with
a smile.

"How did yours first show itself?"

"I hardly know. I used to be subject to sudden attacks of faintness; but
I am not sure that they had anything to do with the disease itself."

Just what Maude was becoming subject to! She had told him of a
fainting-fit in London; had told him of another now.

"I suppose the doctors warn you against sudden shocks, Bob?"

"More than against anything. I am not to agitate myself in the least; am
not to run or jump, or fly into a temper. They would put me in a glass
case, if they could."

"Well, we'll see what skill can do for you," said Hartledon, rousing
himself. "I wonder if a warmer climate would be of service? You might
have that without exertion, travelling slowly."

"Couldn't afford it," was the ingenuous answer. "I have forestalled my
pay as it is."

Lord Hartledon smiled. Never a more generous disposition than his; and if
money could save this poor Bob Kirton, he should not want it.

Walking forth, he strolled down the road towards Calne, intending to ask
a question or two of the surgeon. Mr. Hillary was at home. His house was
at this end of Calne, just past the Rectory and opposite the church, with
a side view of Clerk Gum's. The door was open, and Lord Hartledon
strolled into the surgery unannounced, to the surprise of Mr. Hillary,
who did not know he was at Calne.

The surgeon's opinion was not favourable. Captain Kirton had
heart-disease beyond any doubt. His chest was weak also, the lungs not
over-sound; altogether, the Honourable Robert Kirton's might be called
a bad life.

"Would a warmer climate do anything for him?" asked Lord Hartledon.

The surgeon