r Street, and obtained Philip
Staines's address. She flew to it, and there learned he was down at
Kent Villa. Instantly she telegraphed to her maid to come down to her
at Gravesend, with things for a short visit, and wait for her at the
station; and she went down by train to Gravesend.

Hitherto she had walked on air, driven by one overpowering impulse.
Now, as she sat in the train, she thought a little of herself. What was
before her? To break to Mrs. Staines that her husband was dead. To tell
her all her misgivings were more than justified. To encounter her cold
civility, and let her know, inch by inch, it must be exchanged for
curses and tearing of hair; her husband was dead. To tell her this, and
in the telling of it, perhaps reveal that it was HER great bereavement,
as well as the wife's, for she had a deeper affection for him than she
ought.

Well, she trembled like an aspen leaf, trembled like one in an ague,
even as she sat. But she persevered.

A noble woman has her courage; not exactly the same as that which leads
forlorn hopes against bastions bristling with rifles and tongued with
flames and thunderbolts; yet not inferior to it.

Tadcaster, small and dull, but noble by birth and instinct, had seen the
right thing for her to do; and she, of the same breed, and nobler far,
had seen it too; and the great soul steadily drew the recoiling heart
and quivering body to this fiery trial, this act of humanity--to do
which was terrible and hard, to shirk it, cowardly and cruel.

She reached Gravesend, and drove in a fly to Kent Villa.

The door was opened by a maid.

"Is Mrs. Staines at home?"

"Yes, ma'am, she is at HOME: but--"

"Can I see her?"

"Why, no, ma'am, not at present."

"But I must see her. I am an old friend. Please take her my card. Lady
Cicely Treherne."

The maid hesitated, and looked confused. "Perhaps you don't know, ma'am.
Mrs. Staines, she is--the doctor have been in the house all day."

"Ah, the doctor! I believe Dr. Philip Staines is here."

"Why, that IS the doctor, ma'am. Yes, he is here."

"Then, pray let me see him--or no; I had better see Mr. Lusignan."

"Master have gone out for the day, ma'am; but if you'll step in the
drawing-room, I'll tell the doctor."

Lady Cicely waited in the drawing-room some time, heart-sick and
trembling.

At last Dr. Philip came in, with her card in his hand, looking evidently
a little cross at the interruption. "Now, madam, please tell me,