ng, that--in a girl with such eyes!"

And the doctor, with a humorous nod to his angry friend, went
downstairs.

After this warning of the real danger in which Dudley lay, it was, of
course, impossible for Mr. Wedmore to send poor Carrie away, at any rate
until the arrival of some one who could take her place. And as there was
clearly some sense in the doctor's suggestion that her knowledge of the
case was valuable, Mr. Wedmore ended by sending up for one trained nurse
to relieve her, instead of for two, as he had proposed.

And, after all, there seemed to be less danger in the direction of Max
than he had supposed; for Carrie never once left the sick-room until the
professional nurse arrived at ten o'clock that night. And as Mrs.
Wedmore was then in waiting to mount guard over Carrie, and to carry her
off to her supper and then to her bedroom, the first day's danger to the
susceptible son and heir seemed to have been got through rather well.

On the following morning, however, the well-watched Carrie escaped from
the supervision of her jailers, and boldly made a direct attack upon Max
under the family's nose.

Carrie was looking out of one of the back windows of the house to get a
breath of fresh air, before taking her turn of duty in the sick-room,
when she saw Max talking to one of the grooms outside the stables. He
saw her, and his face flushed. Mrs. Wedmore, who was standing on guard a
few paces from Carrie, noted the fact with maternal anxiety. She rather
liked the girl, whose modest manners were as attractive as her pretty
face; but with the fear of "entanglements" before her eyes, she tried to
check her own inclination. Carrie turned to her abruptly.

"The nurse won't mind waiting a few minutes for me," said she, quickly.
"I must speak a few words to Mr. Max."

And before Mrs. Wedmore could get breath after this audacious statement,
Carrie was down the stairs and half away across the yard, where Max
hastened to meet her.

"I have something to say to you," she began at once with a grave face.
"Do you know that--_they've come_?"

"Who? Who have come?"

"The police."

Max started.

"Nonsense! What makes you think so? I've seen no one."

"I have, though. I've been expecting them, for one thing, and it's made
me sharp, I suppose. But I've seen in the park, among the trees, this
morning before anybody was up almost, a man walking about, taking his
bearings and looking about him."

"One of the gardene