Absorbed in the letter, and in the conflict of opposite feelings which it roused—­her color rising when it turned her thoughts inward on herself, and fading again when she was reminded by it of the coming visit—­Anne was called back to a sense of present events by the reappearance of the servant, charged with a message.  Mr. Speedwell had been for some time in the cottage, and he was now waiting to see her down stairs.

Anne found the surgeon alone in the drawing-room.  He apologized for disturbing her at that early hour.

“It was impossible for me to get to Fulham yesterday,” he said, “and I could only make sure of complying with Lord Holchester’s request by coming here before the time at which I receive patients at home.  I have seen Mr. Delamayn, and I have requested permission to say a word to you on the subject of his health.”

Anne looked through the window, and saw Geoffrey smoking his pipe—­not in the back garden, as usual, but in front of the cottage, where he could keep his eye on the gate.

“Is he ill?” she asked.

“He is seriously ill,” answered Mr. Speedwell.  “I should not otherwise have troubled you with this interview.  It is a matter of professional duty to warn you, as his wife, that he is in danger.  He may be seized at any moment by a paralytic stroke.  The only chance for him—­a very poor one, I am bound to say—­is to make him alter his present mode of life without loss of time.”

“In one way he will be obliged to alter it,” said Anne.  “He has received notice from the landlady to quit this cottage.”

Mr. Speedwell looked surprised.

“I think you will find that the notice has been withdrawn,” he said.  “I can only assure you that Mr. Delamayn distinctly informed me, when I advised change of air, that he had decided, for reasons of his own, on remaining here.”

(Another in the series of incomprehensible domestic events!  Hester Dethridge—­on all other occasions the most immovable of women—­had changed her mind!)

“Setting that aside,” proceeded the surgeon, “there are two preventive measures which I feel bound to suggest.  Mr. Delamayn is evidently suffering (though he declines to admit it himself) from mental anxiety.  If he is to have a chance for his life, that anxiety must be set at rest.  Is it in your power to relieve it?”

“It is not even in my power, Mr. Speedwell, to tell you what it is.”

The surgeon bowed, and went on: 

“The second caution that I have to give you,” he said, “is to keep him from drinking spirits.  He admits having committed an excess in that way the night before last.  In his state of health, drinking means literally death.  If he goes back to the brandy-bottle—­forgive me for saying it plainly; the matter is too serious to be trifled with—­if he goes back to the brandy-bottle, his life, in my opinion, is not worth five minutes’ purchase.  Can you keep him from drinking?”