e doctor admitted it and
praised her, but he refused to let her get up till the next day, and
then only for tea in the drawing-room; and, strange to say, Lady
Dashwood did not argue the point, merely remarking that she wasn't sure
whether she could be trusted to remain in bed. She wouldn't promise that
she could be trusted.

When the doctor left May slipped out with him, and they went along the
corridor together.

"How much better is she?" she asked. "Is she really on the road to being
quite well?"

"She's all right," said the doctor, as they went down the staircase,
"but she mustn't be allowed to get as low as she was yesterday, or there
will be trouble."

"And," said May, "what about me?" and she explained to him that she was
only in Oxford on a visit and had work in London that oughtn't to be
left.

"Has she got a good maid?" asked the doctor.

"An excitable Frenchwoman, but otherwise useful." They were at the front
door now.

"And you really ought to go to-morrow?"

"I ought," said May, and her heart seemed to be sinking low down--lower
and lower.

"Very well," said the doctor, "I suppose we must let you go, Mrs.
Dashwood," and as he spoke he pulled the door wide open. "Here is the
Warden!" he said.

There was the Warden coming in at the gate. May was standing so that
she could not see into the court. She started at the doctor's remark.

"I'll speak to him," he said, and, bowing, he went down the steps,
leaving the door open behind him. May turned away and walked upstairs.
She wouldn't have to tell the Warden that she was going to-morrow; the
doctor would tell him, of course. Would he care?

She went back to the bedroom, and Lady Dashwood looked round eagerly at
her, but did not ask her any questions.

"Now, dear, pour out the tea," she said. "The doctor was a great
interruption. My dear May, I wish I wasn't such an egotist."

"You aren't," said May, sitting down and pouring out two cups of tea.

"I am," said Lady Dashwood.

"Why?" asked May.

"Well, you see," said Lady Dashwood, "I was terribly upset about Belinda
and Co., because Belinda and Co. had pushed her foot in at my front
door, or rather at Jim's front door; but she's gone now, as far as I'm
personally concerned. She's a thing of the past. But, and here it comes,
Belindas are still rampant in the world, and there are male as well as
female Belindas; and I bear it wonderfully. I shall quite enjoy a cup of
tea. Thanks, darling."

"I