, that he had had
one fair crack at Ezra Girdlestone. He glanced down at his knuckles,
which were raw and bleeding, with a mixture of satisfaction and disgust.
With half a smile he put his injured hand in his pocket, and looking up
once more became aware that a red-faced gentleman was approaching him in
a highly excited manner.

It could not be said that the red-faced gentleman walked, neither could
it be said that the red-faced gentleman ran. His mode of progression
might best be described as a succession of short and unwieldy jumps,
which, as he was a rather stout gentleman, appeared to indicate some
very urgent and pressing need for hurry. His face was bathed in
perspiration, and his collar had become flaccid and shapeless from the
same cause. It appeared to Tom, as he gazed at those rubicund, though
anxious, features, that they should be well known to him. That glossy
hat, those speckless gaiters, and the long frock-coat, surely they could
belong to none other than the gallant Major Tobias Clutterbuck, late of
her Majesty's 119th of the Line?

As the old soldier approached Tom, he quickened his pace, so that when
he eventually came up with him he could only puff and pant and hold out
a soiled letter.

"Read!" he managed to ejaculate.

Tom opened the letter and glanced his eye over the contents, with a face
which had turned as pale as the major's was red. When he finished it he
turned without a word, and began to run in the direction from which he
had come, the major following as quickly as his breath would permit.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

GIRDLESTONE SENDS FOR THE DOCTOR.

When Kate came to herself after the terrible incident which frustrated
her attempt at escape, she found herself in bed in her own little room.
By the light which shone in through the window she knew that it must be
well on in the day. Her head was throbbing violently, and she was so
weak that she could hardly raise herself in bed. When she looked round
she found that Rebecca had brought a chair in from her room and was
sitting by the fire. At the sound of her movement the maid glanced up
and perceived that her mistress had recovered consciousness.

"Lor' bless me!" she cried, "you've given us a pretty fright.
We thought you wasn't coming back to your senses no more. You've been
a-lyin' there since the middle of the night, and now it's close on to
twelve o'clock."

Kate lay silent for some little time, putting together all that