s. He had learnt the main facts on his way, but had been
seeking his junior to hear the details, and he looked, like the
warrior who had missed Thermopylae, ashamed and grieved at his
holiday.

The bottle Rosamond had sent for arrived, and there was enough
vigour restored to make her say, "Here's a first service, Mr.
Bindon, to help this poor fellow into bed."

"No, no!" exclaimed Herbert.

"You are not going to say there's nothing the matter with you?" said
Rosamond, as a flush passed over the pale face.

"No," he said; "but I want to go home. I should have taken a fly at
Wil'sbro'. Cranky will see to me without bothering anybody else.
If you would send for one--"

"I don't think I can till I know whether you are fit to move," said
Rosamond. "I desired Dilemma to tell them to send Dr. Worth here
when he comes to Terry. Besides, is it quite right to carry _this_
into another place?"

"I never thought of that," said Herbert. "But they would shut me
up; nobody come near me but Cranky." But there a shivering fit
caught him, so that the sofa shook with him, and Rosamond covered
him with rugs, and again told him bed was the only place for him,
and he consented at last, holding his head as he rose, dizzy with
the ache.

"Look here, Lady Rose," he said, falling back into a sitting posture
at the first attempt, "where's my writing-case? If I go off my
head, will you give this to the Rector, and ask him if it will be
any good in the matter he knows of?" and he handed her an envelope.
"And this keep," he added, giving her one addressed to his father.
"Don't let him have it till it's all over. You know." Then he took
up a pen and a sheet of paper, and got as far, with a shaking hand,
as 'Dear Crank--' but there he broke down, and laid his head on the
table, groaning.

"I'll do it. What shall I say, dear Herbert?"

"Only tell her to come to me," he gasped. "Cranstoun--our old
nurse. Then I'll be no trouble."

While Mr. Bindon helped Herbert into his room, Rosamond sped home to
send for Mrs. Cranstoun, arrange for the care of the new patient in
the intervening hours, and fetch some of those alleviations of which
experience had taught the use. Mr. Bindon came to meet her on her
return, carefully shutting the door, and saying, "Lady Rosamond, can
he be delirious already? He is talking of being plucked for his
Ordination."

"Too true," said Rosamond. "I thought it a great shame to be so
hard on a man wi