The
Bunhouse__ of its patrons, in closing the door, and in sending a message
(by the direction of the girl who had summoned Barton, and who seemed
not devoid of sense) to Mrs. St. John Deloraine. While that lady was
being expected, the girl, who now took a kind of subordinate lead, was
employed by Barton in helping to carry Margaret to her own room, and in
generally restoring order.

When the messenger arrived at Mrs. St John Delo-raine's house with
Barton's brief note, and with his own curt statement that "murder was
being done at _The Bun-house_," he found the Lady Superior rehearsing
for a play. Mrs. St. John Deloraine was going to give a drawing-room
representation of "Nitouche," and the terrible news found her in one of
the costumes of the heroine. With a very brief explanation (variously
misunderstood by her guests and fellow-amateurs) Mrs. St. John Deloraine
hurried off, "just as she was," and astonished Barton (who had never
seen her before) by arriving at _The Bunhouse_ as a rather conventional
shepherdess, in pink and gray, rouged, and with a fluffy flaxen wig.
The versatility with which Mrs. St. John Deloraine made the best of all
worlds occasionally let her into _inconsequences_ of this description.

But, if she was on pleasure bent, Mrs. St. John Deloraine had also, not
only a kind heart, but a practical mind. In five minutes she had heard
the tragic history, had dried her eyes, torn off her wig, and settled
herself as nurse by the bedside of Margaret. The girl's wound, as Barton
was happily able to assure her, was by no means really dangerous; for
the point of the weapon had been turned, and had touched no vital part.
But the prodigious force with which the blow had followed on a scene
of violent reproaches and insane threats (described by one of the young
women) had affected most perilously a constitution already weakened
by sickness and trouble. Mrs. St. John Deloraine, assisted by the most
responsible of _The Bun-house_ girls, announced her intention to, sit up
all night with the patient. Barton--who was moved, perhaps, as much
by the beauty of the girl, and by the excitement of the events, as by
professional duty--remained in attendance till nearly dawn, when the
Lady Superior insisted that he should go home and take some rest. As
the danger for the patient was not immediate, but lay in the chances of
fever, Barton allowed himself to be persuaded, and, at about five in the
morning, he let himself out