o the bed to find his patient's eyes open and fixed upon him
with something of perplexity in their depths.

"Don't try to move just yet," he counselled her quickly. "You've had a
bad faint, and must lie still for a little while. Do you feel better?"

"Much better, thank you." Her voice, though it sounded weak, was oddly
deep in tone. "I suppose I fainted. Did they send for you?"

"Yes. Your servants were getting alarmed." He smiled. "But there is no
need for alarm now. What you want is a long rest. You have been
overtiring yourself, perhaps?"

A peculiar smile, which was mocking and yet sad, curved her lips for a
moment. Then she said quietly:

"Perhaps I have overtired myself a little lately. But it was quite
unavoidable."

"I see." Something about this speech puzzled Anstice, and for a moment
he was rather at a loss to know what to say in reply.

She did not wait for him, however.

"Do you think I shall faint again? These faints are so
unpleasant--really I don't think"--she paused, and when she resumed her
voice sounded still deeper, with a true contralto note--"I don't think
even death itself can be much more horrible. The sensation of falling,
of sinking through the earth----"

She broke off, and he hastened to reply.

"I don't think you need anticipate any further trouble to-night. I
suppose you have had your heart sounded?"

Again she smiled; and once more he could have sworn there was mockery in
her smile.

"Yes. But I don't think my heart is wrong. It--it is due to other
causes----"

She stopped abruptly as the door opened, and the woman came in, carrying
the hot-water bottle for which she had been sent.

"That you, Tochatti?" She seemed to welcome the interruption. "Thank you
so much." She let the servant fuss over her for a moment, then turned to
Anstice. "You see," she said, "I am well looked after."

"I am glad you are," he rejoined promptly. "You know you are really in
need of a little care at present. If you will allow me, I should like to
sound your heart myself."

She acquiesced rather wearily; and having satisfied himself that the
state in which he found her was due rather to weakness than to any
specific disease, he turned to the strangely named woman, whom he now
guessed to be a foreigner, and gave her a few directions for the night.

"I'll see to it, sir," she said quietly; and Anstice knew his orders
would be faithfully carried out.

"Well, I can't do you any good by staying,"