. I will
be down in a minute.' Mrs Lawford was about to close the door when Ada
appeared.

'If you please, ma'am,' she said, 'I have been waiting, as you told me,
to let Dr Ferguson out, but it's nearly seven now; and the table's not
laid yet.'

'I really should have thought, Ada,' Sheila began, then caught back the
angry words, and turned and looked over her shoulder into the room.
'Do you think you will need anything more, Dr Ferguson?' she asked in a
sepulchral voice.

Again Lawford's lips moved; again he shook his head.

'One moment, Ada,' she said closing the door. 'Some more medicine--what
medicine? Quick! She mustn't suspect.'

'"What medicine?"' repeated Lawford stolidly.

'Oh, vexing, vexing; don't you see we must send her out? Don't you see?
What was it you sent to Critchett's for last night? Tell him that's
gone: we want more of that.'

Lawford stared heavily. Oh, yes, yes,' he said thickly, 'more of
that....'

Sheila, with a shrug of extreme distaste and vexation, hastily opened
the door. 'Dr Ferguson wants a further supply of the drug which Mr
Critchett made up for Mr Lawford yesterday evening. You had better go at
once, Ada, and please make as much haste as you possibly can.'

'I say, I say,' began Lawford; but it was too late, the door was shut.

'How I detest this wretched falsehood and subterfuge. What could have
induced you....?'

'Yes,' said her husband, 'what! I think I'll be getting to bed again,
Sheila; I forgot I had been ill. And now I do really feel very tired.
But I should like to feel--in spite of this hideous--I should like to
feel we are friends, Sheila.'

Sheila almost imperceptibly shuddered, crossed the room, and faced
the still, almost lifeless mask. 'I spoke,' she said, in a low, cold,
difficult voice--'I spoke in a temper this morning. You must try to
understand what a shock it has been to me. Now, I own it frankly, I
know you are--Arthur. But God only knows how it frightens me,
and--and--horrifies me.' She shut her eyes beneath her veil. They waited
on in silence a while.

'Poor boy!' she said at last, lightly touching the loose sleeve; 'be
brave; it will all come right, soon. Meanwhile, for Alice's sake, if
not for mine, don't give way to--to caprices, and all that. Keep quietly
here, Arthur. And--and forgive my impatience.'

He put out his hand as if to touch her. 'Forgive you!' he said humbly,
pushing it stubbornly back into his pocket again. 'Oh, Sheila, the
fo