Regie in the meanwhile had waked up, and was having tea in the drawing-room as a great treat.

He had much to tell about his expedition; how the Bishop had given him half-a-crown, and Uncle Dick had taken him into the town to spend it, and how after dinner he had ridden on Uncle Dick’s back.

“And Auntie Hester.  How was she?”

“She was very well, only she cried a little.  I did not stay long, because Mr. Bishop was wanting to give me the half-crown, and he kept it down-stairs.  And when I went in again she was in bed, and she was so sleepy she hardly said anything at all.”

Mr. Gresley came in wearily and dropped into a chair.

Mrs. Gresley gave him his tea, and presently took Regie up-stairs.  Then she came back and sat down in a low chair close to her husband.  It was the first drop of comfort in Mr. Gresley’s cup to-day.

“How is Hester?”

“According to Dr. Brown she is very ill,” said Mr. Gresley, in an extinguished voice.  “But they would not let me see her.”

“Not see her own brother!  My dear James, you should have insisted.”

“I did, but it was no use.  You know how angry Dr. Brown gets at the least opposition.  And the Bishop backed him up.  They said it would excite her.”

“I never heard of such a thing.  What is the matter with her?”

“Shock, Dr. Brown calls it.  They have been afraid of collapse all day, but she is better this evening.  They seemed to think a great deal of her knowing Regie.”

“Did the little lamb forgive her?”

“Oh yes; he kissed her, and she knew him and cried.  And it seems her hands are severely burned.  They have got a nurse, and they have telegraphed for Miss West.  The Bishop was very good to Regie and gave him that fur rug.”

They looked at the splendid blue fox rug on the sofa.

“I am afraid,” said Mrs. Gresley, after a pause, “that Hester did run all the way to Southminster as the Bishop said.  Abel said the Bishop’s coachman told him that she came late last night to the Palace, and she was white with snow when the footman let her in.”

“My dear, I should have thought you were too sensible to listen to servant’s gossip,” said Mr. Gresley, impatiently.  “Your own common-sense will tell you that Hester never performed that journey on foot.  I told Dr. Brown the same, but he lost his temper at once.  It’s curious how patient he is in a sick-room, and how furious he can be out of it.  He was very angry with me, too, because when he mentioned to the Bishop in my presence that Hester was under morphia, I said I strongly objected to her being drugged, and when I repeated that morphia was a most dangerous drug, with effects worse than intoxication, in fact, that morphia was a form of intoxication, he positively, before the Bishop, shook his fist in my face, and said he was not going to be taught his business by me.