done it; I--I was not conscious of doing it; but somehow I must have put
the drops instead of the cordial into his brandy, for he has fallen into
a deep sleep, from which I am unable to awaken him."

"Thank Heaven, it is no worse!" sobbed Miss Margaret. "I--I was afraid
some terrible accident had happened."

While he was speaking, Sally had run into the corridor and made the
pretense of listening to the valet's dilemma, while Antoinette stood
back in the shadow laughing to herself at the strange way fate or
fortune or luck, or whatever it was, had played into her clever hands.

This was, indeed, an unexpected dilemma. Following the valet into her
brother's apartments, she found Andrew's statement indeed true--her
brother was in a sound sleep, from which all their efforts were futile
to awake him.

"There is nothing else to be done but to go down without him," she said
at length in despair, turning to Sally. "The effect of the potion ought
to wear off in an hour or so, then he can join the guests."

The entrance of Miss Margaret and the bride created quite a sensation;
but when the former explained the ludicrous mistake which caused the
doctor's temporary absence from them, their mirth burst all bounds, and
the very roof of the grand old mansion shook with peal after peal of
hearty laughter.

So the fun and merriment went on until he should join them, and the
happy, dazzling, beautiful young bride was the petted queen of the hour.

Old Mrs. Gardiner was greatly disappointed because her beautiful
daughter-in-law did not wear the famous family diamonds, but when Sally
slipped up to her and whispered that she had forgotten, in her
excitement over Jay's mishap, to don them, the old lady was mollified.

The evening ran its length, and ended at last. Midnight had come, giving
place to a new moon, and in the wee sma' hours the festive guests had
taken their departure, each wishing with a jolly little laugh, to be
remembered to their host when he should awake. The lights were out in
the magnificent drawing-room and in the corridor.

Young Mrs. Gardiner was at last in her own _boudoir_, in the hands of
Antoinette.

It was generally late in the morning when those pretty blue eyes opened.
But it was little more than daylight when Antoinette came to her couch,
grasped hurriedly the pink-and-white arm that lay on the lace coverlet,
saying, hoarsely:

"You are wanted, my lady. You must come at once. Master is worse; that