the
united efforts of the two volunteer nurses to restrain him, and after
each attack he was left weak and helpless as an infant. Then he would
weep, and beg piteously not to be abandoned to the mercy of his
enemies; or he would fancy himself still in the awful blackness of the
ancient workings, and plead with his attendants not to be left thereto
die.

"For the sake of my daughter, gentlemen--my only child--who has no one
else in the world to love her or care for her, I beg of you to save
me. If you are human, take pity on her and let me go!" he would cry.

At such times no voice, not even Mary's, seemed to soothe him as did
that of Peveril, and his most violent struggles were controlled by the
gentle firmness of the young athlete.

All through that dreadful night Mary Darrell watched Peveril with
tear-filled eyes, wondering at his strength and gentleness, and
unconsciously loving him for them. Not that she would for an instant
have admitted such a thing even to herself. She tried instead to
believe that he was the cause of all this sorrow, and that she hated
him for it. "In whatever he does," she said to herself, "he is
actuated by remorse, and a desire to atone in some way for ruining my
father's life."

The anxiously awaited dawn found Ralph Darrell lying quietly with
closed eyes and Peveril keeping wakeful watch beside him. Aunty Nimmo
had been sent to her bed long since, and Connell was fast asleep on
the floor of the hall just outside the sick-room door. Mary Darrell
sat in an easy-chair, overcome by exhaustion, also sleeping lightly.

As the growing light fell on her tear-stained face, crowned by a
wealth of close-clipped hair curling in tiny ringlets, Peveril looked
at her curiously, and wondered why he had never thought her beautiful
until that moment. Apparently conscious of the young man's gaze, the
girl suddenly opened her eyes, and a faint flush suffused her pale
cheeks. Ere either she or Peveril could speak, the muffled sound of a
steam-whistle broke the morning stillness.

"Our friends have come, Miss Darrell," whispered the watcher. "You
have just time to go to your room and refresh yourself with a dash of
cold water before they appear."

Nodding assent, the girl accepted the suggestion and departed.

Then Peveril sent Connell to meet the new-comers, who, as he knew,
would steam directly into the land-locked basin, and remained to
finish his vigil alone.

Suddenly, as he sat absorbed in med