ck at the same headlong pace. She
did not know, either, that he had set means on foot whereby a capable
woman would be secured to look after the house. Dr. White was not a
man who talked much, but he did a great deal. He seemed to be pleased
with the patient's condition on his return. As far as he could judge
there were no evil signs.

"Now, Miss Bolitho," he said as he went away, "I want you to understand
that Paul Stepaside's mother is not the only patient I have. You are
another. You must go to bed immediately."

"I could not--I could not!" she cried.

"Very well, then," said the doctor. "I noticed as I came up that there
was a fire in Stepaside's study. There's a comfortable sofa there. Go
and lie down."

"I could not lie down!"

"But I say you can, and you must!" said the doctor. "Here, I've
brought something for you."

He poured a powder into a glass of water, and bade Mary drink it. The
girl obeyed him.

"Now," he said. "Come down at once."

He led her downstairs by the arm into Paul's study, and having arranged
the cushions on the sofa, he insisted on her lying down. Seizing a
rug, he wrapped her up in it just as a father might.

"I'm not going to have you ill," he said. "Remember that! I'll call
again to-night, but not before ten o'clock. I've a busy evening before
me. In less than half an hour you'll be asleep, and you'll sleep for
at least three hours; then you'll wake up better. By that time some
dinner will be ready for you. What a grand thing it is to have a
meddling fellow who takes everything out of your hands, isn't it?" and
he gave the ghost of a laugh.

A few minutes later Mary felt a sense of drowsiness creeping over her,
and then became unconscious.

When she awoke again it was to find her father sitting by her side.

She started up from the couch, for the moment unable to realise the
situation. At first she thought she was back in the hotel in
Manchester, but in a few seconds she realised the truth.

"Father!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, Mary. I felt sure you'd come here. Directly I could get away I
came as fast as I could, but the trains are terribly slow. I've only
been here a few minutes."

For a few seconds there was a silence between them. Each seemed to
know all that the other was thinking.

"I felt I must have a talk with you, Mary," said Judge Bolitho at
length. "There are so many things to say, and so many things to do.
Could I stay here to-night, I