ce, the eyes were
half-closed, sending a chill of horror through the startled girl, who
now tore frantically at the bell.

"A doctor--they must fetch a doctor. No; Percy must come back to tell
her the simple truth, for I am right: Malcolm Stratton could not treat
her as she thinks."

And Percy Guest was on the way to put it to the test.

For some little distance not a word was spoken in the carriage, each of
its occupants being full of his or her own thoughts.

Miss Jerrold was the first to break the silence. For, as she sat there
stern and uncompromising, thinking of the duty she had voluntarily
undertaken in answer to the appeal in her niece's eyes, which plainly
asked that she would stand between father and lover in any encounter
which might take place, she noted that she was still holding the bouquet
of exotics she had borne to the church.

A look of annoyance and disgust crossed her face.

"Here, Mr Guest," she said sharply; "let down the window and throw
these stupid flowers away."

Guest started, and hesitated about taking the bouquet, but it was
pressed into his hand, and he was about to lower the window when the
lady interposed.

"No; it would be waste," she cried. "Wait till we see some poor flower
girl, and give it to her."

The window on her right was let down sharply; then the flowers were
snatched from her hand, and thrown out into the road by Sir Mark, who
dragged the window up again with an angry frown.

"As you please, Mark," said the lady quietly; "but the flowers might
have been worth shillings to some poor soul."

Silence reigned once more as the wheels spun round. Oxford Street was
reached and crossed, the coachman turning down into and across Grosvenor
Square, and then in and out, avoiding the main streets, till the last,
when the busy thoroughfare was reached near its eastern end, and the
carriage was drawn up at the narrow, court-like entrance to the quiet,
secluded inn.

Heads were turned directly, among those whose attention was taken being
a barrister in wig and gown, just on his way to the court, where Mr
Justice Blank was giving his attention to a divorce case.

Miss Jerrold saw the legal gentleman's smile, and guessed its meaning.

"How stupid!" she muttered. Then, as the footman came to the door:
"Edward," she whispered hurriedly, "take that stupid satin bow from your
breast. Tell Johnson, too."

The favour disappeared as the door was thrown open, and Sir Mark spra