bedside, and tried to learn whether Alma was suffering merely from
shock, or had sustained an actual injury; but she still nursed her
grievance against him, and would say very little. Why did not the doctor
come? She wished to see the doctor; no one else was of any use.

'Go down and have lunch with Mrs. Abbott properly. Do go, please; I hate
all this fuss, and it's quite unnecessary. Let me be alone till the
doctor comes.'

Before the arrival of Dr Evans's assistant she again fainted, and upon
that followed an attack of hysteria. When at length the medical man had
seen her, Harvey received an adequate, but far from reassuring,
explanation of the state of things. At nightfall Dr Evans came in
person, and was with the patient for a long time. He spoke less gravely
of the case, offered a lucid diagnosis, and thought that the services of
an ordinary nurse for a few days would meet every necessity. Williams
was sent with a hired vehicle to the market town, seven miles away, and
late at night returned with the woman recommended. Alma meanwhile had
lain quietly, and the household at length went to rest without renewal
of alarms.

Twice before dawn Harvey left his room and stepped silently to Alma's
door. The first time, he heard low voices; the second, there was no
sound. When, about eight o'clock, he went down and out into the garden,
he was surprised to meet Mrs. Abbott. She had already seen the nurse this
morning, and reported that all was going well. Rolfe talked cheerfully
again, and would not listen to his guest's timid suggestion that she
should take leave today. Not a bit of it; she was to go down to the
seashore and enjoy the sunshine, and worry herself just as little as
possible. At breakfast-time came a message from Alma to the same effect.