moor was told.

Adela felt that this might be the safest opportunity, and sent a message
to the door to beg that her ladyship would come and speak to her for a
few minutes in the study.

Mary's soft step was soon there, and her lips were framing the words, 'No
ground lost,' when at sight of Adela's face the light went out of her
eyes, and setting herself firmly on her feet, she said, 'You have bad
news. My boy!'

Adela came near and would have taken her hand, saying--'My poor
Mary'--but she clasped them both as if to hold herself together, and
said, 'The fever!'

'No, no--sadder still! Drowned!'

'Ah, then there was not all that suffering, and without me!
Thankworthy-- Oh no, no, please'--as Lady Adela, with eyes brimming
over, would have pressed her to her bosom--'don't--don't upset me, or I
could not attend to Frank. It all turns on this one day, they say, and I
must--I must be as usual. There will be time enough to know all about
it--if'--with a long oppressed gasp--'he is saved from the hearing it.'

'I think you are right, dear,' said Adela, 'if you keep him--' but she
could not go on.

'Well, any way,' said Mary, 'either he will be given back, or he will be
saved this. Let me go back to him, please.' Then at the door, putting
her hand to her head--'Who is here?'

'Poor Eden.'

'Ah, let her and Emma know that I am sure it is not their fault. Come
again to-morrow, please; I think he will be better.'

She went away in that same gliding manner, perfectly tearless. Adela
waited to see the doctor, who assured her that the patient had rather
gained than lost during the last twenty-four hours, and that if he could
be spared from any shock or agitation he would probably recover. Lady
Northmoor seemed so entirely absorbed by his critical state, that she was
not likely to betray the sad knowledge she had put aside in the secret
chamber of her heart, more especially as her husband was still too much
weighed down, and too slumberous to be observant, or to speak much, and
knowing the child to be out of the house, he did not inquire for him.

Nevertheless, Mr. Trotman gladly approved of Lady Adela's intention of
sleeping in the house in case of any sudden collapse; and the servants,
who were not to let Lady Northmoor know, evidently felt this a great
relief.

'Yes, it is a comfort to think some one will be within that poor thing's
reach,' said Bertha, as they went back together, 'and, if you can bear
it