nced; then, for the first time remarking my breathless condition
and disordered dress, she exclaimed, "Good Heavens! are you ill?
you pant for breath, and your hands and the sleeves of your coat are
saturated with water--with--oh! it is blood; you are wounded!" she
cried, sinking in a chair, and turning as pale as ashes.

"Indeed, darling, you are alarming yourself unnecessarily; I am
perfectly uninjured," replied I soothingly.

"Something dreadful has happened!" she continued, fixing her eyes upon
me; "I read it in your face."

"An accident has occurred," I began; "Oaklands----"

"Stop!" she exclaimed, interrupting me, "the two shots I heard but
now--his agitation--his strange manner yesterday--oh! I see it all; he
has been fighting a duel." She paused, pressed her hands upon her eyes,
as if to shut out some dreadful vision, and then asked, in a low, broken
voice, "Is he killed?"

"No," replied I, "on my word, on my honour, I assure you he is not;
the bleeding had ceased when I left him, which is a very favourable
symptom."

~220~~Fanny sighed heavily, as if relieved from some unbearable weight,
and, after remaining silent for about a minute, she removed her hands
from her face, and said, in a calm tone of voice:--

"And now, what is to be done? can I be of any use?"

Astonished at the rapidity with which she had regained her self-control
and presence of mind after the violent emotion she had so recently
displayed, I replied:--

"Yes, love, you can, the Hall is too far off, and they are bringing him
here".

As I spoke these words she shuddered slightly, but seeing I was doubtful
whether to proceed, she said, "Go on, pray".

"Would you," I continued, "break this to my mother, and tell her I
believe--that is, I trust--there is no great danger--and--and--do that
first."

With a sad shake of the head, as if she mistrusted my attempt to
reassure her, she quitted the room, whilst I obeyed Ellis's instructions
by preparing the bed; after which I unclosed the hall-door, and,
despatching the gardener's boy to fetch the surgeon, stood anxiously
awaiting the arrival of the party. I had not done so many minutes when
the measured tramp of feet gave notice of their approach, and in another
instant they came in sight.

CHAPTER XXVIII -- THE SUBSTANCE OF THE SHADOW

"Recovery, where art thou?

Daughter of Heaven, where shall we seek thy help?"

"Come thou and chase away