At this moment the surgeon returned.  It was absolutely necessary that Lady Annabel should compose herself.  She exerted all that strength of character for which she was remarkable.  From this moment she resolved, if her life were the forfeit, not to quit for an instant the bedside of Venetia until she was declared out of danger; and feeling conscious that if she once indulged her own feelings, she might herself soon be in a situation scarcely less hazardous than her daughter’s, she controlled herself with a mighty effort.  Calm as a statue, she received the medical attendant, who took the hand of the unconscious Venetia with apprehension too visibly impressed upon his grave countenance.  As he took her hand, Venetia opened her eyes, stared at her mother and her attendant, and then immediately closed them.

‘She has slept?’ inquired Lady Annabel.

‘No,’ said the surgeon, ’no:  this is not sleep; it is a feverish trance that brings her no refreshment.’  He took out his watch, and marked her pulse with great attention; then he placed his hand on her brow, and shook his head.  ‘These beautiful curls must come off,’ he said.  Lady Annabel glided to the table, and instantly brought the scissors, as if the delay of an instant might be fatal.  The surgeon cut off those long golden locks.  Venetia raised her hand to her head, and said, in a low voice, ‘They are for my father.’  Lady Annabel leant upon the surgeon’s arm and shook.

Now he led the mother to the window, and spoke in a hushed tone.

’Is it possible that there is anything on your daughter’s mind, Lady Annabel?’ he inquired.

The agitated mother looked at the inquirer, and then at her daughter; and then for a moment she raised her hand to her eyes; then she replied, in a low but firm voice, ‘Yes.’

’Your ladyship must judge whether you wish me to be acquainted with it,’ said Mr. Hawkins, calmly.

’My daughter has suddenly become acquainted, sir, with some family incidents of a painful nature, and the knowledge of which I have hitherto spared her.  They are events long past, and their consequences are now beyond all control.’

‘She knows, then, the worst?’

‘Without her mind, I cannot answer that question,’ said Lady Annabel.

’It is my duty to tell you that Miss Herbert is in imminent danger; she has every appearance of a fever of a malignant character.  I cannot answer for her life.’

‘O God!’ exclaimed Lady Annabel.

’Yet you must compose yourself, my dear lady.  Her chance of recovery greatly depends upon the vigilance of her attendants.  I shall bleed her again, and place leeches on her temples.  There is inflammation on the brain.  There are other remedies also not less powerful.  We must not despair; we have no cause to despair until we find these fail.  I shall not leave her again; and, for your satisfaction, not for my own, I shall call in additional advice, the aid of a physician.’