A Sovereign Remedy

Dawn when those who have seen the light of life fade from a beloved face watch the slo

when there is no need to cloud its kindly form with sentimentalities, when we need not drug ourselves into disregarding its

stairs. Dr. Ramsay, whose hands were full with many claimants on his care, spoke of a severe nervous crisis, which had evidently been coming on for some time. Her best chance was this semi-cataleptic state from which she would recover in her own good time.

details had been arranged, looked in and envied her. He had told the doctor of her visit to his room, and his wild stern-chase of her to Betty Cam's chair, and of his wonder--a wond

replied guardedly, and there, in the str

he was remembering the strange unkenned look he had noticed on his cousin's face. Was

ave passed away. The only man who knew of the danger! It was a coincidence certainly. As for Mrs. Massingham, the fright must have brought on one of her heart attacks; else there was no reason why she should not have escaped, taking Maidie with her; i

thouse further west, and had struck lightly on a sunken rock just off the headland beyond Cam's Bay. It seemed none the worse, and would most likely fl

he latter went to see him about wir

et all these" (a perfect pile of forms lay beside him)

" began Ned. Mr. Hirsch looked up qui

est more than I can he

the wires at all. It certainly began in the back premises, and they tell me the cook was dead dru

take away the responsibility for having put such a ghastly monstro

dly look an elder gives to a child who has

he said. "All this is so exhausting to the nerves.

? It was a relief when Ted Cruttenden ended the conversation by entering i

ready?"

to be off, It's a shocking bad road to Haverton," r

by cycling to Wellhampton. Five miles further, but there's an all-

ughs--"I am in no particular hurry. I must give Jenkin time--good Lord, what a rel

er, and the effect was stimulating. It roused his admiration, his imagination. He stood at the window, waiting and watching Mr. Hirsch's head--it was growing

scendingly. "One is in cipher, and that costs. The chang

een his and Lord Blackborough's telegrams, but putting them into different pockets, smiled. "You are metodical, I see," he

, almost as if some chemical affinity had manifested itself between the molecules composing his brain and Mr.

undred and fifty pounds a year. For it must not be forgotten that he was no-man's son. His mother had refused to give his father's name. When she lay dying, and her people, seeking to trick her, ask

al against his unknown father. On this fine June morning as he made his way across the high Cornish tableland, dipp

uld have had a better chance with Aura. No doubt at his age Hir

ating! These we

o be one of those hot June days, when the freshness of dawn is g

hill and drew out his handkerc

h's telegrams came out also

t, or something very like it. His little friend and admirer in the stockbroker's office was

se but read the f

. He should have expe

wh

ll below five s

ch's laugh of relief at "getting rid of Jenkin," which he had hardly noticed at the time, came back to him. Jenkin apparently was to be given time to sell, while Mr. Hirsch was to buy. It was a straight lead-over. What if he were to follow it e

inally ordered to his room by Dr. Ramsay who was too busy to speak to any one. The Wrexhams left early, followed at intervals by the other guests, and the Keep settled down into the slack collapse which always follows on the excitement of a catastrophe. The servants seemed to remember they had been up all night; Mr. Hirsch was the only person who was really awake,

additional dreariness; since, just as he abutted on the little quay, he saw one of the transport's boats, disembarking a coffin. The dead officer, of course. Poor chap, to die like that within sight

name?" he asked of the local p

hear'm say Massin'ham; same name as the poor

hoed Ted--"that

n the captain of the transport, and everything was quite simple--terribly simple. Major Massingham had come on board at Bombay ill, but had not, however, let his people know of his illness, as he expected the voyage to set him up. He had unfortunately taken a chill off Gibraltar: pneumonia had set in, and in his delirium he had constantly talked of his wife a

e unintelligible in his adm

ws would have broken him. By the way, I don't want Lord Blackborough disturbed. There is a nasty splinter that will give trouble; an

iflich-auf-erlegbar!" And he went off to his room, looking a perfect wreck, aged by ten years; for deep down below the hard shell which grubbing for gold

es. But the hundred pounds he had adventured, following Mr. Hirsch's lead, weighed on him still more heavily. Why had he been so impulsive? At the most he could gain three hundred; and what would Mr. Hirsch

ing to see how Lord Blackborough fared, he found him not only wide a

edly. "I made sure you would be asleep.

this strange something which every now and again seems to show us a solemn, shroud

ut what about the question, 'Why does a man think he is the Emperor of China when he is mad?' We have got to answer that, and show what it is which induces delusions and hysteria, and why hypnotic sleep causes certain specific alterations in the body corporate, as it does. But we've only just woke up to the fact that we stand on the verge of some great discovery; we've only just begun t

orning--she and I--and I told her it wasn't safe for her to be always watching the sea--I warned her--in joke of course

ly. "We have to learn, apparently, tha

One wouldn't credit you with s

te the equation of life tremendously. But they are there. It is no use dismissing them as hysterical manifestations. Tha

ow, whom I left in Betty Cam's chair last night. I have been going over the whole incident in my mind, and I a

kes, and that cannot be very long now, for she was much more normal when I we

remember nothing,

ibly tell----" he broke off as a knock was heard at the door, and a

g as he held open the door, pass

to bear the brunt of it all; but I am all right now, and shall manage. He ought to be in bed, oughtn't he?" she continued, her eyes narrowing a little as they met P

d, Mrs. Tressilian," he rep

he awful night on the point--but--but you couldn't have saved him, Ned. It was the stairs--if only they had been fireproof!--for he knew every turn. I--I have been down to see him, Ned, and he looks so peaceful--so content. You see he ha

d! They looked at

he interval between the time when she had passed upstairs to her room, joking and laughing wi

elt annoyed. For, looking at Helen Tressilian's face, he rec

hich whetted his curiosity so much. She was normal now; she might conceivably marry some

sion with which she insisted on rest for them bo

of Aura. Aura, as he had seen her in her blue linen smock and sandals, Aura as he could picture her in pink satin and diamonds. Which was the most beautiful, the most beau

led slumber, came

rs with his feet. He did not know that the dapper little figure at the door was to him Mephistopheles, that

d, you have bought S

te, and Mr. Hirsch decently robed for dinner, and with, as ever, the large white flower of a blameless life in his button-hole. Through the open window the mellow pipe of a blackbird, full of the glad song of

ard it, he was to

ir--because I--I believed in you ..

id you bel

, gave a short laugh. "Upon my soul,

--you had not overheard anything--y

argumentatively. "You said Jenkin must have time--and the

angry, I ought to tell you many things, but I have searched long for one to believe in me. I need hi

ressed for dinner his head was in a whirl. This was a chance indeed. By Christmas he might st

used to listen to reason, and Mrs. Tressilian was no better. They had both of them declined to be mixed up any further with the h

. Yes! I give him two years to be a pauper," said poor Mr. Hirsch, and then his eyes positively f