" she replied. "Ralph is remaining with
him."

"He is better, then, I hope?"

"He is in a very critical state, and is likely to remain in it. His
illness was quite serious enough, without having it increased by one of
his own household."

"Ah, I was afraid that had been the case," returned Charles. "I knew you
had been doctoring him when he was out of sorts yesterday. But you must
not reproach yourself, Aunt Mary. We are none of us infallible. No doubt
you acted for the best at the time, and I dare say what you gave him may
not do him any permanent injury."

"If that is intended to be amusing," said Lady Mary, her teacup
trembling in her hand, "I can only say that, in my opinion, wilfully
misunderstanding a simple statement is a very cheap form of wit."

"I am so glad to hear you say so," said Charles, rising, "as it was at
your expense." With which Parthian shot he withdrew.

I endeavored in vain to waylay Evelyn after tea, but she slipped away
almost before it was over, and did not appear again till dinner-time. In
the mean while my brain, fertile in expedients on most occasions, could
devise no means by which I could speak to her alone, and without
Charles's knowledge. I felt I must trust to chance.

CHAPTER XI.

When I came down before dinner I found Ralph and Charles talking
earnestly by the hall-fire, Ralph's hand on his brother's shoulder.

"You see we are no farther forward than we were," he was saying.

"We shall have Marston back to-morrow," said Charles, as the gong began
to sound. "We cannot take any step till then, especially if we don't
want to put our foot in it. I have been racking my brains all the
afternoon without the vestige of a result. We must just hold our hands
for the moment."

Dinner was announced, and we waited patiently for a few minutes, and
impatiently for a good many more, until Evelyn hurried down, apologizing
for being late, and with a message from Lady Mary that we were not to
wait for her, as she was dining up-stairs in her own room--a practice to
which she seemed rather addicted.

"And where is Aurelia?" asked Ralph.

"She is not coming down to dinner either," said Evelyn. "She has a bad
headache again, and is lying down. She asked me to tell you that she
wishes particularly to see you this evening, as she is going away
to-morrow, and if she is well enough she will come down to the
morning-room at nine; indeed, she said she would come down anyhow."

After Ral