ere you not afraid to venture on such a day?'

'I had to come,' Gladys made reply, and she kissed them both with a
perfectly grave face. 'Will you do something for me, Mrs. Fordyce?'

'Why, certainly, my dear. But what is the matter with you? You look as
melancholy as an owl.'

'Will you send a servant to Gorbals Mill, to ask your nephew to come
here on his way home from business? I want to see him very
particularly.'

It was a very natural and simple request, but somehow Mrs. Fordyce
experienced a sense of uneasiness as she heard it.

'Why, certainly. But will a telegram not do as well? It will catch him
more quickly. He is often away early just now; there is so much to see
about at Dowanhill.'

At Dowanhill was situated the handsome town house George Fordyce had
taken for his bride, but the allusion to it had no effect on Gladys
except to make her give her lips a very peculiar compression.

'How stupid of me not to think of a telegram! Will you please send it
out at once?'

'From myself?'

'Yes, please.'

She brought Mrs. Fordyce her writing materials, the telegram was
written, and the maid who brought in the tea took it down-stairs.

'Gladys, you look frightfully out of sorts,' said Mina quickly. 'What
have you been about? Have you been long in town?'

'Since twelve. I have come from the Infirmary just now, walking all the
way.'

'Walking all the way!--but from the Western, of course?'

'No, from the Royal; it seemed quite short. Oh, that tea is delicious!'

She drank the contents of the cup at one feverish draught, and held it
out for more. Both mother and daughter regarded her with increased
anxiety in their looks.

'My dear, it is quite time you had some one to exercise a gentle
authority over you. To walk from the Royal Infirmary here! It is past
speaking of. Child, what do you mean? You will be ill on our hands next,
and that will be a pretty to-do. Surely you came off in post-haste this
morning without your rings?' she added, with a significant glance at
the girl's white hand, from which she had removed the glove.

Gladys took no notice of the remark; but Mina, observant as usual, saw a
look she had never before seen creep into the girl's eyes.

'But you have never told us yet what you were doing at the Infirmary?'
she said suggestively; but Gladys preserved silence for a few minutes
more.

'Please not to ask any questions,' she said rather hurriedly. 'You will
know everything very soon