ressed a note to
Dr. Baldwin, who presently, as if making a casual call, dropped in to
see his patient. The doctor knew how to comport himself with Lady
Ogram. He began by remarking cheerfully how well she looked, and asking
whether she had settled the details of her summer holiday. Dull and
rather sullen of air, Lady Ogram replied with insignificant brevities;
then, as the doctor chatted on about local matters, her interest
gradually awoke.

"Anything more been done about the new hospital?" she asked.

"Oh, there are promises, but nothing really important. It'll cost far
more money than there seems any chance as yet of getting. We ought to
buy that bit of land I told you about on Burgess Hill. The price is
high, but it's a perfect situation, and I'm afraid it'll be going to
the builders if something isn't soon done."

Lady Ogram would have purchased the site in question long since, for it
was her purpose to act decisively in this matter of the much-needed
hospital, but it happened that the unspeakable Robb was the man who had
first drawn public attention to the suitability of Burgess Hill, and
Lady Ogram was little inclined to follow where Robb had led. She hoped
to find a yet better site, and, by undertaking at once both purchase of
land and construction of the building, with a liberal endowment added,
to leave in the lurch all philanthropic rivals. For years she had
possessed plans and pictures of "The Lady Ogram Hospital." She cared
for no enterprise, however laudable, in which she could only be a
sharer; the initiative must be hers, and hers the glory.

Discreetly, Dr. Baldwin worked round to the subject of his patient's
health. He hoped she was committing no imprudence in the way of
excessive mental exertion. It seemed to him--perhaps he was
mistaken--that talk agitated her more than usual. Quiet and
repose--quiet and repose.

That afternoon Lady Ogram was obliged to lie down, a necessity she
always disliked in the daytime, and for two or three days she kept her
room. Constance now and then read to her, but persuaded her to speak as
little as possible of exciting subjects. She saw no one but this
companion. Of late she had been in the habit of fixing her look upon
Constance, as though much occupied with thoughts concerning her. When
she felt able to move about again, they sat together one morning on the
terrace before the house, and Lady Ogram, after a long inspection of
her companion's countenance, asked su