Quick!"

"Oh, he'll be all right in a minute," drawled the Haddock, who did not
relish a stiff ride along dusty roads in his choicest confection.
"He's playing the fool, I believe--or a bit scared at the ferocious
serpent."

Lucille gave the youth a look that he never forgot, and turned to the
sporting person.

"You know the stables, Mr. Fellerton," she said. "Would you tell
Pattern or somebody to send a man for Dr. Jones? Tell him to beat the
record."

The sporting one sprinted toward the shrubbery which lay between the
grounds and the kitchen-gardens, beyond which were the stables.

Most people, with the better sort of mind, withdrew and made efforts
to recommence the interrupted games or to group themselves once more
about the lawns and marquees.

Others remained to make fatuous suggestions, to wonder, or merely to
look on with feelings approaching awe and fascination. There was
something uncanny here--a soldier and athlete weeping and screaming
and going into fits at the sight of a harmless grass-snake, probably a
mere blind worm! Was he a hysterical, neurotic coward, after all--a
wretched decadent?

Poor Lucille suffered doubly--every pang, spasm, and contortion that
shook and wrung the body of her beloved, racked her own frame, and her
mind was tortured by fear, doubts, and agony. "Oh, please go away,
dear people," she moaned. "It is a touch of sun. He is a little
subject to slight fits--very rarely and at long intervals, you know.
He may never have another." A few of the remaining onlookers backed
away a little shamefacedly. Others offered condolences while inwardly
scoffing at the "sun" explanation. Did not de Warrenne bowl, bat, or
field, bare-headed, throughout the summer's day without thinking of
the sun? Who had heard of the "fits" before? Why had they not
transpired during the last dozen years or so? "Help me carry him
indoors, somebody," said the miserable, horrified Lucille. That would
get rid of the silly staring "helpers" anyhow--even if it brought
matters to the notice of Grumper, who frankly despised and detested
any kind of sick person or invalid.

What would he say and do? What had happened to the glowing, glorious
world that five minutes ago was fairy-land and paradise? Was her Dam a
wretched coward, afraid of things, screaming like a girl at the sight
of a common snake, actually terrified into a fit? Better be a
pick-pocket than a.... Into the thinning, whispering circle came
General