self to pronounce an opinion, Lady Kirton,"
rejoined the doctor, who had grown to feel irritated lately at the
dowager's want of ceremony towards him. "In the early stage of a disorder
it can rarely be done with certainty."

"Now don't let's have any of that professional humbug, Pepps," rejoined
her ladyship. "You doctors know a common disorder as soon as you see it,
only you think it looks wise not to say. Is it small-pox?"

"It's not impossible," said the doctor, in his wrath.

The dowager gasped.

"But I do not observe any symptoms of that malady developing themselves
at present," added the doctor. "I think I may say it is not small-pox."

"Good patience, Pepps! you'll frighten me into it. It is and it
isn't--what do you mean? What is it, if it's not that?"

"I may be able to tell after a second visit. Good morning, Lady Kirton,"
said he, backing out. "Take care you don't do yourself an injury with too
much of that camphor. It is exciting."

In a short time Mr. Brook arrived. When he had seen the child and was
alone with Lady Hartledon, she explained that the countess-dowager had
wished Sir Alexander Pepps called in, and showed him the prescription
just written. He read it and laid it down.

"Lady Hartledon," said he, "I must venture to disagree with that
prescription. Lord Elster's symptoms are those of scarlet-fever, and it
would be unwise to administer it. Sir Alexander stands of course much
higher in the profession than I do, but my practice with children is
larger than his."

"I feared it was scarlet-fever," answered Lady Hartledon. "What is to be
done? I have every confidence in you, Mr. Brook; and were Edward my own
child, I should know how to act. Do you think it would be dangerous to
give him this prescription? You may speak confidentially."

"Not dangerous; it is a prescription that will do neither harm nor
good. I suspect Sir Alexander could not detect the nature of the illness,
and wrote this merely to gain time. It is not an infrequent custom to
do so. In my opinion, not an hour should be lost in giving him a more
efficacious medicine; early treatment is everything in scarlet-fever."

Lady Hartledon had been rapidly making up her mind. "Send in what you
think right to be taken, immediately," she said, "and meet Sir Alexander
in consultation later on."

Scarlet-fever it proved to be; not a mild form of it; and in a very few
hours Lord Elster was in great danger, the throat being chiefly affec