."

The buggy rolled up to the steps, and Dr. Grey sprang into it and
drove swiftly down the avenue.

Salome crept softly back up stairs, but Miss Jane called out,--

"Who is there, in the hall? What is the matter?"

The girl opened the door, and put her head inside.

"Dr. Grey has been called to see a sick woman at 'Solitude,' and I
have just locked the door after him."

"Why could not Rachel do that, and save you from coming down stairs?
What time of night is it?"

"About half-past two. Rachel is asleep. Good-night."

"'Solitude,' did you say?"

"Yes, madam."

"Well, if people will persist in burrowing in that unlucky den, they
must take the consequences. Ulpian, poor fellow, will be completely
worn out. Good-night, dear; don't get up to breakfast, if you feel
sleepy."

Salome went to her own room, changed her dress, laid gloves, hat, and
shawl in readiness upon the bed, and threw herself down on the lounge
to rest, and if possible to sleep.

When Dr. Grey reached "Solitude," he found Robert Maclean pacing the
paved walk that led to the gate.

"Oh, doctor! Have you come at last? It seems to me I could have
crawled twice to your house, since Jerry came back."

"What change has taken place in your mother's condition? She was
better than usual, when I saw her last."

"We thought she was getting along very well, till all of a sudden she
became speechless. Go in, sir; don't stop to knock."

Mrs. Gerome sat at the bedside, mechanically chafing one of the hands
that lay on the coverlet, and the face of the dying woman was not more
ghastly than the one which bent over her. As Dr. Grey approached, the
mistress of the house rose, and put out her hands towards him, with a
wistful, pleading, childish manner, that touched him inexpressibly.

"Do not let her die."

He leaned over the pillow, and put his finger on the scarcely palpable
pulse.

"Elsie, tell me where or how you suffer."

A ray of recognition leaped up in her sunken eyes, and she looked at
him with a yearning, imploring expression, that was pitiable and
distressing indeed.

He saw that she was struggling to articulate, but failing in the
effort, a groan escaped her, and tears gathered and trickled down her
pinched face. He smoothed her contracted forehead, and said,
soothingly,--

"Elsie, you feel that I will do all that I can to relieve you. You can
not talk to me, but you know me?"

She inclined her head slightly, and in examining her