for higher wages. And, over
and above all this, he had always considered her personal comfort. Her
meals--which she could never bother about for herself, when engaged
all day at the hall--were, thanks to him, brought to her as
punctually, and served as daintily, as they would have been for her
father; he had taken every care that she should not be disturbed when
resting; and there was, in short, nothing he had not thought of doing
to lighten the load, so unexpectedly laid upon her shoulders. The only
fault she could find with him, was that he had not gained the good
graces of her father.

The day slowly waned. Gladys had stolen into her father's room
repeatedly to see how he fared, and to her his condition had seemed
much about the same--he was as usual tired and peevish. But when, at
six o'clock, she again stole in to peep at him, and found him lying
back on his pillow absolutely still and motionless, and without
apparently breathing, she was immeasurably shocked. Had he had another
fit, or was he dead? Wild with grief and terror, she rushed from the
room to telephone to the doctor, and met him on the landing.

"You need have no fear," he said to her the moment he had looked at
John Martin, "he is sound asleep, and, when he awakes, the crisis will
be past. To-morrow, he may go out for a bit, and, in a week, he will
be himself again. Only you must take care that he does not use his
brain too much."

Gladys could hardly restrain her delight. She felt pleased with
everything and everybody; and her greeting of Shiel, some two hours
later, at the theatre, almost turned his brain. In fact it was owing
to this pleasant surprise, that he made one or two stupid mistakes in
his performance, and was sharply pulled back to earth by the ironic
laughter of the audience. When the entertainment was over, and he was
preparing to accompany Gladys as usual to her motor, the thought of
her sparkling eyes and animated features again overcame him.

"What shall you advise your father to do?" he asked.

"I think he ought to lose no time in getting a partner," Gladys
replied, "some one who can attend to the business side of the concern
for him. It is essential he should not be worried with figures."

"I suppose my services won't be required much longer?" Shiel said,
speaking with rather an effort.

"Of course I can't answer for my father," Gladys replied, "but I
should imagine he would be only too glad to employ you. The only thing
is