oor, which was raised some four feet above
the level of the landing, and approached by as many steps.

Gradually her eyes became riveted on the glass before her, for in it
she thought that she saw the door move. Next second, she was sure that
it _was_ moving, very slowly; the hinges took an age to turn. What
could be behind it? At last it was open, and in the glass Angela saw
framed in darkness _the head and shoulders of George Caresfoot_. At
first she believed that her mind deceived her, that it was an
apparition. No, there was no mistake. But the respirator, the hollow
cough and decrepitude of the morning--where were they?

With horror in her heart, she turned and faced him. Seeing that he was
observed, he staggered into the room with a step which was half
drunken and half jaunty, but which belied the conflict of passions
written on his brow. He spoke--his voice sounded hoarse and hollow,
and was ill-tuned to his words.

"You did not expect me perhaps--wonder how I got here! Jakes let me
in; he has got a proper respect for marital rights, has Jakes. You
looked so pretty, I could not make up my mind to disturb you. Quite a
romantic meeting, is it not?"

"You are a dying man. How did you come here?"

"Dying! my dear wife; not a bit of it. I am no more dying than you
are. I have been ill, it is true, but that is only because you have
fretted me so. The dying was only a little ruse to get your consent.
All is fair in love and war, you know; and of course you never really
believed in that precious agreement. That was nothing but a bit of
maidenly shyness, eh?"

Angela stood still as a stone, a look of horror on her face.

"Then you don't know what you have cost me. Your father's price was a
hundred and fifty thousand, at least that is what it came to, the old
shark! It isn't every man who would come down like for a girl, now is
it? It shows a generous mind, doesn't it?"

Still she uttered not a syllable.

"Angela," he said, changing his tone to one of hoarse earnestness,
"don't look at me like that, because, even if you are a bit put out at
the trick I have played you, just think it was because I loved you so
much, Angela. I couldn't help it, I couldn't really. It is not every
man who would go through all that I have gone through for you; it is
no joke to sham consumption for three months, I can tell you; but we
will have many a laugh over that. Why don't you answer me, instead of
standing there just like the An