table enemies said. Perhaps that was so. In
any case it was difficult to believe that a pretty woman of her stamp
could ever entertain any genuine affection for a man of his age, and
it was most certainly true that whatever bond of sympathy had existed
between them at the time of their marriage had now been snapped.

Instead of remaining at home of an evening and posing as a dutiful
wife as she once had done, she was now in the habit of going up to
town to her friends the Penn-Pagets, who lived in Brook Street, or the
Hennikers in Redcliffe Square, accompanying them to dances and
theatres with all the defiance of the "covenances" allowed nowadays to
the married woman. On such occasions, growing each week more frequent,
her sister Ethelwynn remained at home to see that Mr. Courtenay was
properly attended to by the nurse, and exhibited a patience that I
could not help but admire.

Yes, the more I reflected upon it the more curious seemed that
ill-assorted _menage_. On her marriage Mary Mivart had declared that
her new home in Devonshire was deadly dull, and had induced her
indulgent husband to allow her sister to come and live with her, and
Ethelwynn and her maid had formed part of the household ever since.

We doctors, providing we have not a brass plate in lieu of a practice,
see some queer things, and being in the confidence of our patients,
know of many strange and incomprehensible families. The one at
Richmond Road was a case in point. I had gradually seen how young Mrs.
Courtenay had tired of her wifely duties, until, by slow degrees, she
had cast off the shackles altogether--until she now thought more of
her new frocks, smart suppers at the Carlton, first-nights and "shows"
in Mayfair than she did of the poor suffering old man whom she had not
so long ago vowed to "love, honour and obey." It was to be regretted,
but in my position I had no necessity nor inclination to interfere.
Even Ethelwynn made no remark, although this sudden breaking forth of
her sister must have pained her considerably.

When at length I shook hands with my patient, left him in the hands of
the nurse and descended to the drawing room, I found Ethelwynn
awaiting me.

She rose and came forward, both her slim white hands outstretched in
glad welcome.

"Short told me you were here," she exclaimed. "What a long time you
have been upstairs. Nothing serious, I hope," she added with a touch
of anxiety, I thought.

"Nothing at all," I assured