erriment continued to flow
forth unceasing. Did they not know that the sick girl lay next door, or
at least that she was in the house? Olive stood it as long as she could,
then sprang to her feet, and in a moment had tapped at the next door.

The sounds ceased for a moment, then some one threw it open, and the
light flashed on her pale, indignant face and flashing eyes, with the
wilted lilies at her throat, and the unmistakable air of a woman "born
to command," in her erect head, and clear, indignant glance.

"Are you not aware,"--she had no time to couch her language in pleasing
terms,--"Are you not aware that a lady lies at the point of death in the
next room?"

The four men looked at the apparition in silent amaze for a moment, then
one of them said, with an unmistakable hiccough and a silly smile:

"You don't say so! hic, come in, an' tell us all about it."

"Shut up, Bunce! can't you see it's a lady?" retorted he, who sheepishly
held the door. "I'm--I'm sorry, mam," he continued, with a bow to Olive.
"I--we--forgot; I hope we've not disturbed her much; there shall be no
more noise, I promise you."

Olive disappeared, and returned to Ernestine, her heart swelling with
furious indignation. If she had not been there, would the maid have gone
to Madame T----, and would the sick girl have been left alone in that
death-like stupor? It seemed too heartlessly cruel to be true; Olive
could not understand it.

Roger Congreve returned just before twelve, and found Olive sitting
alone by the sleeper, and his wrath was fully equal to hers.

"But they all know you are with her," he said, "and there are all manner
of curious conjectures floating round. Here are pillows, and wine, and I
have brought Bettine back with me."

"Oh, I am so glad," said Olive, with a sigh of relief, "I have been
pondering what I would do if she should wake up. What did Uncle Ridley
say?"

"Say? Why, it was all I could do to keep him from coming here right
away; and I left him trying to comfort Jean, who was nearly in a spasm
of joy. She was awake and insisted on knowing why you did not come;
otherwise I should not have told her to-night. Here, Bettine, bring one
of those largest pillows."

Bettine came forward from where she stood near the door, bringing a
large, soft pillow, very unlike the little hard one on which Ernestine's
head rested; and as Olive carefully lifted the sleeper's head, they were
exchanged, without disturbing the heavy s