r she never refers to her family or kindred. The only time
I ventured to do so she appeared unhappy, and quickly changed the
subject."

The cousins were sauntering near their hotel and observed Dr Lawrence
hurry from the front door.

"Hallo! Lawrence," called out Lewis.

"Ah! the very man I want," exclaimed the Doctor, hastening to join them,
"do you know that Miss Horetzki is ill?"

"How strange that we should just this moment have referred to her
looking ill! Not seriously ill, I trust," said Emma, with a troubled
look in her sympathetic eyes.

"I hope not, but her case puzzles me more than any that I have yet met
with. I fancy it may be the result of an overstrained nervous system,
but there appears no present cause for that. She evidently possesses a
vigorous constitution, and every one here is kind to her--her father
particularly so. Even if she were in love, which she doesn't seem to be
(a faint twinkle in the Doctor's eye here), that would not account for
her condition."

"I can't help thinking," observed Lewis, with a troubled look, "that her
father is somehow the cause of her careworn looks. No doubt he is very
kind to her in public, but may there not be a very different state of
things behind the scenes?"

"I think not. The Count's temper is gentle, and his sentiments are
good. If he were irascible there might be something behind the scenes,
for when restraint is removed and temper gets headway, good principles
may check but cannot always prevent unkindness. Now, Emma, I have
sought you and Lewis to ask for counsel. I do not say that Nita is
seriously ill, but she is ill enough to cause those who love her--as I
know you do--some anxiety. It is very evident to me, from what she
says, that she eagerly desires her father to be with her, and yet when I
suggest that he should be sent for, she nervously declines to entertain
the proposal. If this strange state of mind is allowed to go on, it
will aggravate the feverish attack from which she now suffers. I wish,
therefore, to send for the Count without letting her know. Do you think
this a wise step?"

"Undoubtedly; but why ask such a question of me?" said Emma, with a look
of surprise.

"First, because you are Nita's friend--not perhaps, a friend of long
standing, but, if I mistake not, a very loving one; and, secondly, as
well as chiefly, because I want you to find out from her where her
father is at present, and let me know."

"There i