t this extremely early hour in the morning, after you had been
suffering from a congeries of hysterical fits. Recollect what you
promised me."

"I recollect nothing but my wrongs," cried Lady Lisle.

"Then as your medical attendant, called in upon this emergency by my
friend, Lady Tilborough, it is my duty to tell you that you gave me your
word that you would be calm if I allowed you to return."

"Yes," said the suffering woman, bitterly. "I promised because I could
not bear to stay longer in that hateful woman's house."

"It seemed to me, madam, that the lady whom you so wrong, behaved in a
very loving and sisterly way to you in an emergency."

"Yes; brought about by her machinations."

"Oh, dear!" sighed Lady Tilborough. "What an unreasonable darling it
is! Machinations! Why, I only asked a dear old friend to help me and
save me from ruin, and he responded nobly."

"Ruin? You helped to ruin him by luring him back to the diabolical
horrors of the Turf."

"There, there, my dear; I won't argue with you, certainly not quarrel.
Pray, pray try and calm yourself, or you'll be having another of those
terrible hysterical fits."

"Yes," said Granton, "and worse than the last."

"I am glad. It will be my last. Infamous woman, why did you drag me to
your house?"

"Because, my dear, I didn't like to see a lady in your position ill and
suffering in such a place as the Tilborough Arms."

"And because, my dear madam, when I found how bad you were I begged Lady
Tilborough to save you from a long hour's drive home when your coachman
was not to be found."

"But you lured my husband away, woman."

"Well, I have confessed to that, my dear madam, and I am sorry that you
should look upon it with different eyes from mine. I don't think I have
been such a terrible sinner, do you, doctor?" she added, with a look
which made the gentleman addressed flutter as regarded his nerves.

But he had the medical man's command over self, and he said quietly: "I
think when Lady Lisle has grown calmer she will look a little more
leniently upon her neighbour's actions. Now, pray, my dear madam, let
me beg of you to--Ah! that's better. Don't try to restrain your tears.
They are the greatest anodyne for an overwrought mind. Now, remember
your promise. Let me ring for your maid. A cup of tea and a good long
sleep, and the racing escapade will wear a different aspect by the light
of noon."

"Oh, doctor, doctor!" sobbed the poor