his wife.

When I came home again about eight o'clock on the following morning it
was to find Sir John Bell awaiting me in the consulting-room. A glance
at his face told me that there was something dreadfully wrong.

"What is it?" I asked.

"What is it? Why, what I called after you yesterday, only you wouldn't
stop to listen, and I haven't known where to find you since. It's
puerperal fever, and Heaven knows what gave it to her, for I don't. I
thought so yesterday, and this morning I am sure of it."

"Puerperal fever," I muttered, "then I am ruined, whatever happens to
Emma."

"Don't talk like that, man," answered Sir John, "she has a capital
constitution, and, I daresay, we shall pull her through."

"You don't understand. I have been attending Lady Colford, going
straight from Emma's room to her."

Sir John whistled. "Oh, indeed. Certainly, that's awkward. Well, we must
hope for the best, and, look you here, when a fellow calls out to you
another time just you stop to listen."

To dwell on all that followed would serve no good purpose, and indeed
what is the use of setting down the details of so much forgotten misery?
In a week my beloved wife was dead, and in ten days Lady Colford had
followed her into the darkness. Then it was, that to complete my own
destruction, I committed an act of folly, for, meeting Sir John Bell, in
my mad grief I was fool enough to tell him I knew that my wife's death,
and indirectly that of Lady Colford, were due to his improper treatment
and neglect of precautions.

I need not enter into the particulars, but this in fact was the case.

He did not say much in answer to my accusation, but merely replied:--

"I make allowances for you; but, Dr. Therne, it is time that somebody
taught you that people's reputations cannot be slandered with impunity.
Instead of attacking me I should recommend you to think of defending
yourself."

Very soon I learned the meaning of this hint. I think it was within a
week of my wife's funeral that I heard that Sir Thomas Colford, together
with all his relations and those of the deceased lady, were absolutely
furious with me. Awaking from my stupor of grief, I wrote a letter to
Sir Thomas expressing my deep regret at the misfortune that I had been
the innocent means of bringing upon him. To this letter I received a
reply by hand, scrawled upon half a sheet of notepaper. It ran:--

"Sir Thomas Colford is surprised that Dr. Therne should think it wort