n't eat it! Take it away--I don't want it, I tell you! Curse
you, can't you do as you're bid?" Thus spake Dick Talbot-Lowry,
flinging himself back on his pillows, and shoving the breakfast-tray
from him. The hot purple colour that had flooded his face was fading;
his voice was getting hoarse and weak. Evans, with an apprehensive eye
on his master's changed aspect, carried the tray out of the room.

There was a quick step on the stairs, and Larry came lightly along the
landing.

"The Major up, Evans? No? Oh, all right! May I come in, Cousin Dick?"

He swung into the room.

Old Evans carefully shut the door behind him.

"Now me laddy-o!" he whispered, rubbing his hooked grey beak with one
finger, and chuckling low and wheezily: "Now, maybe! Me fine young
Papist! Ye'll be getting your tay in a mug! Hot and strong! Hot and
strong!"

He moved away from the door with the tray of untouched breakfast
things.

CHAPTER XXXII

Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning
visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an
electric bell.

"Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly
knew why.

A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the
summons. Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw
Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.

"Papa's bell is ringing, dear," said Lady Isabel, breathing hard.

"I heard someone go up to his room just now," said Christian,
languidly; "I haven't seen him this morning; I was in the yard with
the dogs--"

Someone came down the stairs, headlong, two steps at a time. Larry's
voice shouted:

"Christian! Cousin Isabel! Anyone--!"

There was urgency and alarm in the voice.

Lady Isabel and Christian were in the hall in an instant, and met
Larry at the foot of the stairs.

"Cousin Dick's ill! A heart attack, I think--I didn't know what to do
for him--"

"I do!" said Christian, speeding upstairs.

Her mother followed her, and Larry remained in the hall. Of one thing
he was quite certain, that he had better keep out of Cousin Dick's
sight. His nerves were quivering from the interview that had been so
shatteringly abbreviated. Had the friendly old setter, whose head at
this moment was on his knee, while her limpid eyes swore to him that
all her love was his, suddenly turned and rent him, it would scarcely
be a shock worse than that he had received. He had been undeterred by
t