"What?" asked Mavis, seriously alarmed by the deadly earnestness of her
friend's manner.

"Miss Hunter!"

"What of her?"

"First tell me, where was it you went for your--your honeymoon?"

"Polperro. Why?"

"That's one of the places she's been to."

"And you think---?"

"Her manner's so funny. And you wondered why I was so jolly keen on
your not coming to Melkbridge!"

"I thought--I hoped my troubles were at an end," murmured Mavis.

"Whatever happens, you can rely on me till the death--when it's after
dark."

"What do you mean?" asked Mavis.

"Why, that much, much as I love you, I'm not going to risk the loss of
my winter fire, hot-water bottles, and books, for getting mixed up in
any scrape pretty Mavis gets herself into."

The next morning Mavis went to business in a state bordering on
distraction. The baby was not one whit better, and even hopeful Mrs
Trivett had shaken her head sadly. But she had pointed out that Mavis
could not help matters by remaining at home; she also promised to send
for a doctor should the baby's health not improve in the course of the
morning. Mavis was so distraught that she stared wildly at the one or
two people she chanced to meet, who, knowing her, seemed disposed to
stop and speak. She wondered if she should let her lover know the
disquieting state of his son's health. So far, she had not told him of
her coming to Melkbridge, wishing the inevitable meeting to come as a
delightful surprise. When she got to the office, she found a long
letter from Windebank, which she scarcely read, so greatly was her mind
disturbed. She only noted the request on which he was always insisting,
namely, that she was at once to communicate with him should she find
herself in trouble.

When she got back at midday, she found that, the baby being no better,
Mrs Trivett had sent her husband for a doctor who had recently come to
Melkbridge; also, that he had promised to call directly after lunch.
With this information, Mavis had to possess herself in patience till
she learned the doctor's report. That afternoon, the moments were
weighted with leaden feet. Three o'clock came; Mavis was beginning to
congratulate herself that, if the doctor had pronounced anything
seriously amiss with her child, Mrs Trivett would not have failed to
communicate with her, when a boy came into the office to ask for Miss
Keeves.

She jumped up excitedly, and the boy put a note into her hand. A
faintness overwhelmed h