to form.

"Hugh is no better--worse, if possible," and Lancy's face was as white as
Dexie's own. "He keeps calling for you in his delirium; he seems to think
you are drowned or worse, and reaches out to catch you. It takes two to
hold him sometimes."

"Oh, Lancy! am I to blame?" she said, bursting into tears. "I have had such
a horrible day with my thoughts. I don't see how I could help it; yet it
was my fault, I suppose."

"Well, under the circumstances, I don't see how you could have done
differently, Dexie; but don't fret about it. It is an uncomfortable affair
all round, to be sure. I can't help feeling proud of you the way you braved
it out rather than give your promise; but, of course, it was hard on Hugh."

"Does your mother know anything about my part of the affair?"

"Oh, yes! I told her all about it. Hugh raved so, I had to explain what I
knew about the trouble. She guessed quickly enough that something had
happened between you."

"And the doctor?"

"Oh! he knows about it too, and he wants to know if you will come in, if
they find they cannot quiet him. Oh, Hugh will not know you," he added,
looking into her frightened face; "but the doctor thinks you might get him
to sleep if you would be willing to try it."

"Oh, dear! I don't want to go near him; but I suppose I must, if there is
any chance of convincing him that I am safe, after all."

The doctor looked up in surprise when Dexie appeared in the room with Mrs.
Gurney a short time after. Was it this slip of a girl that had wrought such
mischief?

"So this is _your_ work," and he waved his hand towards the bed.

Dexie flashed an angry look at him, saying in a low voice:

"I beg your pardon, sir, I think Mr. McNeil can blame himself and no one
else. What can I do, Mrs. Gurney?"

Hugh was tossing about in restless delirium, muttering broken sentences;
and the piteous cry of "Dexie! oh, Dexie!" rang through the room.

"Speak to him; perhaps he will realize you are here," said Mrs. Gurney.

The doctor placed a chair by the bedside for her, then stood by the foot of
the bed, watching.

"I never meant it, Dexie; I would not throw you over for worlds; forgive
me."

Dexie knew that the memory of the scene on the roof was troubling his mind,
and the anguish depicted on Hugh's face brought such a lump into her throat
that she could not speak a word.

"Come back into the boat with me; I'll promise to take you home," he cried.

The doctor eyed Dexi