er
life might have upon her mistress, in whom he was daily becoming more
deeply interested, Dr. Grey hurried down stairs and met the orphan.

"Elbert is not quite ready, but will be at the door directly. I told
him the case was urgent."

"You are very considerate, Salome, and I am much obliged for your
thoughtfulness; though I regret that the messenger waked you, instead
of Rachel or me. I have never before known Rachel fail to hear the
bell, and I was so weary that I think a ten-inch columbiad would
scarcely have aroused me."

"I was not asleep,--was sitting at my window; and hearing some one
slam the gate and gallop up the avenue, I went to the door and opened
it, to prevent the ringing of the bell and waking of the entire
household."

"You should have been asleep four hours ago, and I had no idea you
were still up, when I came home. There was no light in your room. Are
you quite well?"

"Thank you, I am quite well."

She was dressed as he had seen her at dinner, and now, as she stood
resting one hand on the balustrade of the stairway, he thought she
looked paler and more weary than he had ever observed her.

The scarlet spray of pelargonium had withered from the heat of her
head, where it had rested all the evening, and the large creamy Grand
Duke jasmine fastened at her throat by a sprig of coral, was drooping
and fading, but still exhaled its strong delicious perfume.

"Your appearance contradicts your assertion. Is your wakefulness
attributable to any anxiety or trouble which I can remove?"

"No, sir. I hear Elbert opening the gate. Who is sick at 'Solitude'?"

"The servant who was so severely injured many months ago, by a fall
from a carriage, has grown suddenly worse."

Salome accompanied him to the front door, in order to lock it after
his departure; and, as he descended the steps, he turned and said, in
a subdued voice,--

"You have probably heard that Mrs. Gerome is a very peculiar,--indeed,
a decidedly eccentric person?"

"Yes, sir; it is reported that she is almost a lunatic."

"Which is totally false. She is very sensitive, and shrinks from
strangers, and consequently has no friends here. If I should find
Elsie dying, or if I need you, I wish you to come promptly. It may be
necessary to have some one beside the household, and you are the only
person I can trust. Try to go to sleep immediately, for I may send for
you very early in the morning."

"I shall be ready to come when I am needed