"I have taken Catherine into the garden," Mrs. Presty announced. "The
doctor himself suggested--no, I may say, ordered it. He is afraid
that _she_ may fall ill next, poor soul, if she doesn't get air and
exercise."

In Mrs. Linley's own interests, Randal resolved on advising her to write
to her husband by the messenger; explaining that she was not to blame
for the inexcusable delay which had already taken place. Without a word
more to Mrs. Presty, he hastened out of the room. That inveterately
distrustful woman called him back. She desired to know where he was
going, and why he was in a hurry.

"I am going to the garden," Randal answered.

"To speak to Catherine?"

"Yes."

"Needless trouble, my dear Randal. She will be back in a quarter of an
hour, and she will pass through this room on her way upstairs."

Another quarter of an hour was a matter of no importance to Mrs. Presty!
Randal took his own way--the way into the garden.

His silence and his determination to join his sister-in-law roused Mrs.
Presty's ready suspicions; she concluded that he was bent on making
mischief between her daughter and herself. The one thing to do in this
case was to follow him instantly. The active old lady trotted out of
the room, strongly inclined to think that the Evil Genius of the family
might be Randal Linley after all!

They had both taken the shortest way to the garden; that is to say, the
way through the library, which communicated at its furthest end with the
corridor and the vaulted flight of stairs leading directly out of the
house. Of the two doors in the drawing-room, one, on the left, led to
the grand staircase and the hall; the other, on the right, opened on the
backstairs, and on a side entrance to the house, used by the family when
they were pressed for time, as well as by the servants.

The drawing-room had not been empty more than a few minutes when the
door on the right was suddenly opened. Herbert Linley, entered with
hurried, uncertain steps. He took the chair that was nearest to him, and
dropped into it like a man overpowered by agitation or fatigue.

He had ridden from the farm at headlong speed, terrified by the
unexplained delay in the arrival of the messenger from home. Unable any
longer to suffer the torment of unrelieved suspense, he had returned to
make inquiry at the house. As he interpreted the otherwise inexplicable
neglect of his instructions, the last chance of saving the child's life
had fa