ook it for granted that Nell was also nursing him.
"If not, we will send to London for one; indeed, Sir William may bring
one with him. I don't know what Lord Angleford telegraphed."

"I wish we could do something for you, Nell," whispered Lady Wolfer.
"Only last night, before the burglary, we were arranging that we would
come down here and carry you--by main force, if necessary--up to the
Hall. And now----But, dear, you must not lose heart! He may not be badly
hurt; and the surgeons do such wonderful things now. Perhaps, when Sir
William comes, he may tell you that there is no danger whatever, and
that you will have him well again before very long."

Her eyes dwelt on Nell's with tender pity and womanly sympathy; and
Nell, still puzzled, could only remain silent. As if she could not say
enough, Lady Wolfer drew her to the window, and continued, in a lower
voice:

"I meant to congratulate you, Nell, and I do. I--we all admired him so
much the other night, little guessing the truth; and now that he has
proved himself as brave as he is clever, one can understand your losing
your heart to him. All the same, dear, I think he is a very--very lucky
man."

The red stained Nell's face, and then left it pale again. She opened her
lips to deny that she and Falconer were engaged, but at that moment a
dogcart drove through the gate and stopped at the lodge.

"Here is Drake!" said the countess. "He has been to Angleford to see the
police."

Nell drew away from the window quickly, and the countess went out as
Drake got down from the cart.

"How is he?" Nell heard him ask. Though she had moved from the window,
she could see him. He looked haggard and tired, and she saw the bruise
on his temple. Her heart beat fast, and she turned away and leaned her
arm on the mantelshelf. "And--and Miss Lorton?" he inquired, after the
countess had replied to his first question.

She lowered her voice.

"She looks very ill, but she is bearing up wonderfully. It is a terrible
strain for her, poor girl."

Drake nodded gloomily.

"Tell her that Sir William will be down by the midday train. And tell
her not to give up hope. I saw the wound, and----"

"Hush! She may hear," whispered the countess.

He glanced toward the window, and the color rose to his face.

"Is she there?" he asked.

"Yes. Would you like to see her?"

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixed on the ground; then he said,
rather stiffly:

"No; she might think it an