and the
shake! What was I about? This air and all the rest were like an
intoxication, making me forget my poor Mary!'

He passed his hand over his face with a gesture as if he were very much
shocked and grieved at himself, and Constance suggested that it was all
the mule's fault, and Aunt Mary never complained.

'The more reason she should not have been neglected,' he said; and it was
well for the excluded pair that just then the boxes were reported as
arrived, and he was called on for the keys, so that wild searching for
things demanded occupied them.

After a considerable time, Mrs. Bury came and told Lord Northmoor that he
might go and look at his wife for a few moments, but that she must be
kept perfectly quiet and not talked to or agitated. Constance was not to
go in at all, but was conducted off by the good lady to her own tiny
room, to get herself ready for the much-needed meal that was imminent.

They met again in the outer room. There was a great Speise saal, a
separate building, where the bathers dived _en masse_; but since Mrs.
Bury had made the place her haunt, she had led to the erection of an
additional building where there was a little accommodation for the
travellers of the better class who had of late discovered the glories of
the Dolomites, though the baths were scarcely ever used except by
artizans and farmers. She had this sitting-room chiefly made at her own
expense with these few comforts, in the way of easy folding-chairs, a
vase of exquisite flowers on the table, a few delicate carvings, an
easel, and drawings of the mountain peaks and ravines suspended
everywhere.

Besides this there were only the bedrooms, as small as they well could
be.

They were summoned down to the evening meal, and the maid Lenchen was
left with Lady Northmoor. There was only one other guest, a spectacled
and rather silent German, and Constance presently gathered that Mrs. Bury
was trying to encourage and inspirit Lord Northmoor, but seemed to think
there might be some delay before a move would be possible.

They sent her to bed, for she was really very tired after the long walk
and ride, and she could not help sleeping soundly; but the first thing
she heard in the morning was that the guide had been desired to send a
doctor from Botzen, and the poor child spent a dreary morning of anxiety
with nothing to do but to watch the odd figures disporting themselves or
resting in the shade after their baths, to try a