unreasonable and childish, I knew I could not breathe freely until I was within reach of Mr. Hamilton.  As I crept down the path the sensation of a nightmare haunted me.  I felt as though my feet were weighted with lead.  My face was cold and damp, and I drew my breath painfully.  I almost felt as though I must hide myself in the shrubbery until the faintness passed off; but I shook off my weakness as I remembered that I might be shut out of the house if I allowed them to go in first.  As I emerged from the dark overhanging trees I grew calmer and walked on more quickly.  I dared not cross the open lawn, for fear I might be seen, but took the most secluded route through the oak avenue.  If they should perceive me walking down the terrace towards the conservatory they would only think that I had just left the house.  I could see no signs of them, however, and gained the open door safely.

Even in my state of terror I had made my plan, and without giving myself a moment to recover my self-possession I knocked at the study door, and, at Mr. Hamilton’s rather impatient ‘Come in,’ entered it with the same sort of feeling that one would enter an ark of refuge.

He laid down his pen in some surprise when he saw me, and then rose quickly from his seat.

‘You are ill; you have come to tell me so,’ in an anxious voice.  ’Don’t try to speak this moment:  sit down—­my—­Miss Garston’; but I caught his arm nervously as he seemed about to leave me.

’Don’t go away:  I must speak to you.  I am not ill:  only I have had a turn.  You may give me some water’; for there was a bottle and glass on the table.  He obeyed me at once, and watched me as I tried to take it; but my hand trembled too much:  the next moment he had put it to my lips, and had wiped the moisture gently from my forehead.

‘It is only faintness; it will pass off directly,’ he said quietly.  ’I will not leave you; but I have some sal volatile in that cupboard, and I think you will be the better for it.’  And he mixed me some, and stood by me without speaking until the colour came back to my face.  ’You are better now, Ursula—­I mean,’ biting his lips—­’well, never mind.  Do you feel a little less shaky?’

’Yes, thank you.  I did not mean to be so foolish, but it was dark, and I got frightened and nervous; and oh, Mr. Hamilton, I must not lose time, or they will be coming in.’

‘Who will be coming in?’ he asked, rather bewildered at this.  ’There is no one out, is there?’

’Yes, Miss Darrell and Leah.  I heard them talking in “Conspiracy Corner”; you know that seat in the asphalt walk?’

‘Well?’ regarding me with an astonished air.

’Mr. Hamilton, I am better now.  I am not frightened any longer now I am with you.  Will you please call Leah when she comes in from the garden?  I want to speak to her in your presence.  I have a most serious charge to make against her and against your cousin Miss Darrell.  It relates,’ and here I felt my lips getting white again,—­’it relates to your brother Eric.’