ld Mr. Armadale, and I know no more."

The words, and the voice in which they were spoken, were alike at
variance with Mr. Bashwood's usual language and Mr. Bashwood's usual
tone. There was a sullen depression in his face--there was a furtive
distrust and dislike in his eyes when they looked at Midwinter, which
Midwinter himself now noticed for the first time. Before he could answer
the steward's extraordinary outbreak, Allan interfered.

"Don't think me impatient," he said; "but it's getting late; it's a long
way to Hampstead. I'm afraid the Sanitarium will be shut up."

Midwinter started. "You are not going to the Sanitarium to-night!" he
exclaimed.

Allan took his friend's hand and wrung it hard. "If you were as fond of
her as I am," he whispered, "you would take no rest, you could get no
sleep, till you had seen the doctor, and heard the best and the worst he
had to tell you. Poor dear little soul! who knows, if she could only see
me alive and well--" The tears came into his eyes, and he turned away
his head in silence.

Midwinter looked at the steward. "Stand back," he said. "I want to speak
to Mr. Armadale." There was something in his eye which it was not safe
to trifle with. Mr. Bashwood drew back out of hearing, but not out of
sight. Midwinter laid his hand fondly on his friend's shoulder.

"Allan," he said, "I have reasons--" He stopped. Could the reasons be
given before he had fairly realized them himself; at that time, too,
and under those circumstances? Impossible! "I have reasons," he resumed,
"for advising you not to believe too readily what Mr. Bashwood may say.
Don't tell him this, but take the warning."

Allan looked at his friend in astonishment. "It was you who always liked
Mr. Bashwood!" he exclaimed. "It was you who trusted him, when he first
came to the great house!"

"Perhaps I was wrong, Allan, and perhaps you were right. Will you only
wait till we can telegraph to Major Milroy and get his answer? Will you
only wait over the night?"

"I shall go mad if I wait over the night," said Allan. "You have made
me more anxious than I was before. If I am not to speak about it to
Bashwood, I must and will go to the Sanitarium, and find out whether she
is or is not there, from the doctor himself."

Midwinter saw that it was useless. In Allan's interests there was only
one other course left to take. "Will you let me go with you?" he asked.

Allan's face brightened for the first time. "You dear, go