er very life would pay the forfeit."

For a few moments Lester Stanwick paced up and down the hall lost in
deep thought; his lips were firmly set, and there was a determined
gleam in his restless black eyes. Suddenly he stopped short directly
before the doctor, who stood regarding him with no very agreeable
expression in his honest gray eyes.

"How long will it be before the crisis is past--that is, how long will
it be before she is able to be removed?"

"Not under three weeks," replied the doctor, determinedly.

"Good heavens!" he ejaculated, sharply. "Why, I shall have to--" He
bit his lip savagely, as if he had been on the point of disclosing
some guarded secret. "Fate is against me," he said, "in more ways than
one; these things can not be avoided, I suppose. Well, doctor, as I am
forced to leave to-day I shall leave her in your charge. I will return
in exactly two weeks. She has brain fever, you say?"

The doctor nodded.

"You assure me she can not leave her bed for two weeks to come?" he
continued, anxiously.

"I can safely promise that," replied the doctor, wondering at the
strange, satisfied smile that flitted like a meteor over his
companion's face for one brief instant.

"This will defray her expenses in the meantime," he said, putting a
few crisp bank-notes into the doctor's hand. "See that she has every
luxury."

He was about to re-enter the room where Daisy lay, but the doctor held
him back.

"I should advise you to remain away for the present," he said, "your
presence produces such an unpleasant effect upon her. Wait until she
sleeps."

"I have often thought it so strange people in delirium shrink so from
those they love best; I can not understand it," said Stanwick, with an
odd, forced laugh. "As you are the doctor, I suppose your orders must
be obeyed, however. If the fever should happen to take an unfavorable
turn in the meantime, please drop a line to my address, 'care of Miss
Pluma Hurlhurst, of Whitestone Hall, Allendale,'" he said, extending
his card. "It will be forwarded to me promptly, and I can come on at
once."

Again the doctor nodded, putting the card safely away in his wallet,
and soon after Lester Stanwick took his departure, roundly cursing his
luck, yet congratulating himself upon the fact that Daisy could not
leave Elmwood--he could rest content on that score.

Meanwhile the three venerable sisters and the young doctor were
watching anxiously at Daisy's bedside.

"Oh,