ble
injury. But the case would be long, painful, trying to everybody
concerned. Owing to the mysterious nerve-sympathies of the body, the
sight was already affected and would be more so. Complete rest, certain
mechanical applications, certain drugs--he ran through his
recommendations.

"Avoid morphia, I implore you," he said, earnestly, "if you possibly
can. Here a man's friends can be of great help to him. Cheer him and
distract him in every way you can. I think we shall be able to keep the
pain within bounds."

Lady Lucy looked piteously at the speaker.

"And how long?" she said, trembling.

Mr. Nixon hesitated. "I am afraid I can hardly answer that. The blow was
a most unfortunate one. It might have done a worse injury. Your son
might be now a paralyzed invalid for life. But the case is very serious,
nor is it possible yet to say what all the consequences of the injury
may be. But keep your own courage up--and his. The better his general
state, the more chance he has."

A few minutes more, and the brougham had carried him away. Lady Lucy,
looking after it from the window of her sitting-room, knew that for her
at last what she had been accustomed to describe every Sunday as "the
sorrows of this transitory life" had begun. Till now they had been as
veiled shapes in a misty distance. She had accepted them with religious
submission, as applying to others. Her mind, resentful and astonished,
must now admit them--pale messengers of powers unseen and pitiless!--to
its own daily experience; must look unprotected, unscreened, into their
stern faces.

"John!--John!" cried the inner voice of agonized regret. And then: "My
boy!--my boy!"

* * * * *

"What did he say?" asked Alicia's voice, beside her.

The sound--the arm thrown round her--were not very welcome to Lady Lucy.
Her nature, imperious and jealously independent, under all her sweetness
of manner, set itself against pity, especially from her juniors. She
composed herself at once.

"He does not give a good account," she said, withdrawing herself gently
but decidedly. "It may take a long time before Oliver is quite
himself again."

Alicia persisted in a few questions, extracting all the information she
could. Then Lady Lucy sat down at her writing-table and began to arrange
some letters. Alicia's presence annoyed her. The truth was that she was
not as fond of Alicia as she had once been. These misfortunes, huddling
one on ano