ks she walked quickly away, feeling suddenly afraid lest any
further development should have arisen in her absence, for she had
stayed away from the house longer than she had intended.

As she turned into the lodge gate she looked back. Isabella was
standing where they had parted, gazing at her with the same intentness
which had been so noticeable during their conversation; but now, she
waved a friendly hand, and then she too turned and walked away up the
hill.

"What does she know about it all, I wonder?" said the girl to herself.
"How much could she tell me of the details I long to know? All the
time she was speaking she seemed to be on the point of asking some
question. What was it? and why did she seem so pitifully anxious to
make friends with me?"

CHAPTER VI

DOCTOR GALE

"When hope lies dead. Ah! when 'tis death to live
And wrongs remembered make the heart still bleed,
Better are sleep's kind lies for Life's blind need
Than truth, if lies a little peace can give."--THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON.

As Philippa entered the hall of Bessacre High House the butler met her.

"Dr. Gale is here, miss," he said. "He wished me to say that he would
be glad to speak to you when you came in."

"Certainly," she replied. "Where is the doctor?"

"In the library, miss. This way."

He conducted her to the door of the room and announced her. A man who
had been seated by the writing-table rose to meet her, an elderly man
with grizzled hair and beard and thick overhanging eyebrows.

"Miss Harford?" he said in a gruff, abrupt voice as he bowed.

"Yes," answered Philippa. "You wished to speak to me?"

"Please," he returned. "Won't you sit down? You must be tired, and I
am afraid I must detain you for a little while."

She seated herself and waited, while the doctor stood before her,
pulling fiercely at his ragged beard, and evidently at a loss for words.

When he spoke his manner was short and his tone rather harsh, but he
gave her the impression of a man who was to be trusted. Rough,
perhaps, but straightforward and honest, if somewhat unpolished. His
first words strengthened her conclusion.

"There is no use in beating about the bush; let us come to the heart of
the matter at once. What are you going to do?"

"What am I going to do?" repeated the girl in surprise. "What do you
mean?"

"I mean that we are in your hands. On your decision the life of
Francis Heathcote hangs. I understand fr