with the first glimmer of dawn and realized that she had slept the
night through; how, going to Stella's room she had missed her; how she
had searched house and garden in a frenzy without finding any traces of
her; finally she had discovered that the gate stood open.

"I declare to goodness, m'lady," said Susan. "I never even thought of
Baker when I went out to look for her. After all, if Georgie was safe,
there isn't much more he could do to me than he's done. I don't know
why it was I turned in at old Lizzie's cottage, an' there I found the
poor lamb up against the door, for all the world as though she'd tried
to get in and dropped where she was. She've been talking ever since of
some one follerin' her. And then she calls out for her mother to come.
Once or twice I thought I heard her callin' Master Terry to come and
save her. I can't tell whether she was frightened or whether she
fancied it. But she do cry out, poor little soul, in mortal terror of
some one or something."

Standing there by the foot of the bed Lady O'Gara's heart went out in
tenderness to the sick girl as though she was her own little daughter.
What maze of terror had she passed through, whether in dreams or
reality, that had brought that look to her face? While they watched
Stella got up on her elbow and peered into the corners of the room with
a terrible expression. She struggled violently for a moment as though
held in a monstrous grip. Then she fell back on her pillow, exhausted.

There came a knocking at the door. The doctor. In a few seconds Dr.
Costello was in the room with his invaluable air of never being
flurried, of there being no need for flurry. He did not even express
surprise, though he must have felt it, at seeing Stella there, nor at
the state in which he found her.

"I shall explain to you presently," Lady O'Gara said, "why she is here
instead of at Inch. Mrs. Comerford has quarrelled with her."

"Ah," said the doctor, getting out his clinical thermometer. "It has
been her bane, poor lady, that difficult temper. Years have not
softened it apparently."

"But for all that she has a noble nature," Lady O'Gara said. "This
will be a terrible grief to her."

"If they have fallen out I should not recommend her presence here when
Miss Stella returns to herself," the doctor said quietly. "She must be
kept very quiet. Evidently she has had a bad shock of some kind,
following on a strained condition of the nerves."