e, "she wants him at once."

"Yes, dear, I know," replied her mother, "but it will be better that
I--"

But there was a light cry, "Barney!" and, looking up, they all saw,
standing at the head of the great staircase, a figure slight and frail,
but radiant. It was Iola.

"Pardon me, Lady Ruthven," said Barney, and was off three steps at a
time.

"Come, children." Swiftly Lady Ruthven motioned them into the library
that opened off the hall, where they stood gazing at each other, awed
and silent.

"Heaven help them!" at length gasped Jack.

"Let go my arm, Dr. Charrington," said Miss Ruthven. "You are hurting
me."

"Your pardon, a thousand times. I didn't know. This is more than I can
well stand."

"It will be well to leave them for a time, Dr. Charrington," said Lady
Ruthven, with a quiet dignity that subdued all emotion and recalled them
to self-control. "You will see that Dr. Boyle gets to his room?"

"I shall go up with you, Lady Ruthven, a little later," replied Jack.
"Yes, I confess," he continued, answering Miss Ruthven's look, "I am
a coward. I am afraid to see him. He takes things tremendously. He was
quite mad about her years ago, fiercely mad about her, and when the
break came it almost ruined him. How he will stand this, I don't know,
but I am afraid to see him."

"This will be a terrible strain for her, Lady Ruthven," said Alan. "It
should not be prolonged, do you think?"

"It is well that they should be alone for a time," she replied, her own
experience making her wise in the ways of the breaking heart.

When with that quick rush Barney reached the head of the stairs Iola
moved toward him with arms upraised. "Barney! Barney! Have you come to
me at last?" she cried.

A single, searching glance into her face told him the dread truth. He
took her gently into his arms and, restraining his passionate longing
to crush her to him, lifted her and held her carefully, tenderly, gazing
into her glowing, glorious eyes the while. "Where?" he murmured.

"This door, Barney."

He entered the little boudoir off her bedroom and laid her upon a couch
he found there. Then, without a word, he put his cheek close to hers
upon the pillow, murmuring over and over, "Iola--Iola--my love--my
love!"

"Why, Barney," she cried, with a little happy laugh, "don't tremble so.
Let me look at you. See, you silly boy, I am quite strong and calm. Look
at me, Barney," she pleaded, "I am hungry to look at your face. I've
onl