etter by the bedside myself.

Remembering Mr. Dawson's caution to me, I subjected Mrs. Rubelle to a
severe scrutiny at certain intervals for the next three or four days.
I over and over again entered the room softly and suddenly, but I never
found her out in any suspicious action. Lady Glyde, who watched her as
attentively as I did, discovered nothing either. I never detected a
sign of the medicine bottles being tampered with, I never saw Mrs.
Rubelle say a word to the Count, or the Count to her. She managed Miss
Halcombe with unquestionable care and discretion. The poor lady
wavered backwards and forwards between a sort of sleepy exhaustion,
which was half faintness and half slumbering, and attacks of fever
which brought with them more or less of wandering in her mind. Mrs.
Rubelle never disturbed her in the first case, and never startled her
in the second, by appearing too suddenly at the bedside in the
character of a stranger. Honour to whom honour is due (whether foreign
or English)--and I give her privilege impartially to Mrs. Rubelle. She
was remarkably uncommunicative about herself, and she was too quietly
independent of all advice from experienced persons who understood the
duties of a sick-room--but with these drawbacks, she was a good nurse,
and she never gave either Lady Glyde or Mr. Dawson the shadow of a
reason for complaining of her.

The next circumstance of importance that occurred in the house was the
temporary absence of the Count, occasioned by business which took him
to London. He went away (I think) on the morning of the fourth day
after the arrival of Mrs. Rubelle, and at parting he spoke to Lady
Glyde very seriously, in my presence, on the subject of Miss Halcombe.

"Trust Mr. Dawson," he said, "for a few days more, if you please. But
if there is not some change for the better in that time, send for
advice from London, which this mule of a doctor must accept in spite of
himself. Offend Mr. Dawson, and save Miss Halcombe. I say this
seriously, on my word of honour and from the bottom of my heart."

His lordship spoke with extreme feeling and kindness. But poor Lady
Glyde's nerves were so completely broken down that she seemed quite
frightened at him. She trembled from head to foot, and allowed him to
take his leave without uttering a word on her side. She turned to me
when he had gone, and said, "Oh, Mrs. Michelson, I am heartbroken about
my sister, and I have no friend to advise me!