A messenger accordingly was instantly despatched for the physician, who resided at a town more distant than Southport; the very town, by-the-bye, where Morgana, the gipsy, was arrested.  They contrived, with the aid of Pauncefort, to undress Venetia, and place her in her bed, for hitherto they had refrained from this exertion.  At this moment the withered leaves of a white rose fell from Venetia’s dress.  A sofa-bed was then made for Lady Annabel, of which, however, she did not avail herself.  The whole night she sat by her daughter’s side, watching every movement of Venetia, refreshing her hot brow and parched lips, or arranging, at every opportunity, her disordered pillows.  About an hour past midnight the surgeon retired to rest, for a few hours, in the apartment prepared for him, and Pauncefort, by the desire of her mistress, also withdrew:  Lady Annabel was alone with her child, and with those agitated thoughts which the strange occurrences of the day were well calculated to excite.

CHAPTER VII.

Early in the morning the physician arrived at Cherbury.  It remained for him only to approve of the remedies which had been pursued.  No material change, however, had occurred in the state of Venetia:  she had not slept, and still she seemed unconscious of what was occurring.  The gracious interposition of Nature seemed the only hope.  When the medical men had withdrawn to consult in the terrace-room, Lady Annabel beckoned to Pauncefort, and led her to the window of Venetia’s apartment, which she would not quit.

‘Pauncefort,’ said Lady Annabel, ’Venetia has been in her father’s room.’

‘Oh! impossible, my lady,’ burst forth Mistress Pauncefort; but Lady Annabel placed her finger on her lip, and checked her.  ’There is no doubt of it, there can be no doubt of it, Pauncefort; she entered it yesterday; she must have passed the morning there, when you believed she was in the park.’

‘But, my lady,’ said Pauncefort, ’how could it be?  For I scarcely left your la’ship’s room a second, and Miss Venetia, I am sure, never was near it.  And the key, my lady, the key is in the casket.  I saw it half an hour ago with my own eyes.’

‘There is no use arguing about it, Pauncefort,’ said Lady Annabel, with decision.  ’It is as I say.  I fear great misfortunes are about to commence at Cherbury.’

‘Oh! my lady, don’t think of such things,’ said Pauncefort, herself not a little alarmed.  ‘What can happen?’

‘I fear more than I know,’ said Lady Annabel; ’but I do fear much.  At present I can only think of her.’

‘Well! my lady,’ said poor Mistress Pauncefort, looking bewildered, ’only to think of such a thing! and after all the pains I have taken!  I am sure I have not opened my lips on the subject these fifteen years; and the many questions I have been asked too!  I am sure there is not a servant in the house—­’