d
her? how had she come by it? He spoke to her as to a child, with
extreme gentleness.

"Esther, you poor little thing, what on earth is this all about? Try
to tell me where you've been since you left here."

Her eyes, which were falling shut from exhaustion, tried to open for a
moment. She made an effort to speak, but could not manage it,
convulsive sobs still shaking her like a storm. The doctor and Miss
Clifford had now come up and were bending over her.

"Oh, oh, so he was right, after all!" the old lady murmured in deep
pity and consternation. "Poor girl; what a dreadful condition! What
on earth can we do for her?"

Less moved than the others Sartorius motioned to Roger with his head,
at the same time putting a firm hand on Esther's trembling shoulder.

"I will attend to her, Mr. Clifford, leave her to me. I have dealt
with these cases often. It is a mistake to sympathise too much; what
they are playing for is sympathy. Just help me to get her to that
sofa."

Right or wrong the cold-bloodedness of his attitude repelled Roger
strongly. He could not believe that Esther was playing for sympathy,
but before he was able to voice any objection a fresh alarm came from
his half-fainting charge. As though galvanised into life by the
doctor's touch, she uttered a shriek and cowered away from him.

"No! No! Not again! If he does that again I'm finished!"

The note of abject terror in the appeal struck a chill to Roger's
heart. Whatever this delusion was, it had reduced Esther to a serious
state. Trembling violently she clung to him, her face buried in his
neck. Miss Clifford, who had hastened to arrange the cushions on the
high-backed canape that was set against the wall at the right of the
room, looked on nonplussed, then after a moment approached and spoke
soothingly.

"My dear, my dear, it's quite all right, the doctor won't hurt you.
There's nothing to be afraid of."

"But there is, there is!" Roger heard a low whisper between chattering
teeth. "For God's sake protect me, don't let him come near me!"

Sartorius straightened up slowly and shook his head in a disparaging
fashion.

"I was afraid of this," he commented coldly. "It is going to be a
little difficult to deal with her, unless----"

"Leave her to me, doctor," Roger said in a low tone. "It's no good
exciting her."

He picked her up and carried her to the canape, where very gently he
laid her down. Even in that disturbed mome