circumstances neither you nor my husband could possibly suspect me."

She was silent again, panting from exhaustion.

"I have failed," she said, after a long pause. "You have discovered the
truth. It never occurred to me for a moment that you would go into the
room. He will recover now."

She paused; a fresh attack of haemorrhage came on. Her breath came
quickly. Her end was very near. Her dim eyes could scarcely see.

Groping feebly with her hand she took mine.

"Dr. Halifax--promise."

"What?" I asked.

"I have failed, but let me keep his love, what little love he has for
me, before he marries that other woman. Promise that you will never
tell him."

"Rest easy," I answered, "I will never tell him."

Sir Henry entered the room.

I made way for him to kneel by his wife's side.

As the grey morning broke Lady Studley died.

Before my departure from the Grange I avoided Sir Henry as much as