first cast a look at Mrs. Crayford which said plainly, “Stay here with me.”  Clara bowed her acknowledgments in cold silence, and left them together.  The doctor’s bright eyes followed the girl’s wasted, yet still graceful figure as it slowly receded from view, with an expression of grave anxiety which Mrs. Crayford noticed with grave misgiving on her side.  He said nothing, until Clara had disappeared under the veranda which ran round the garden-side of the house.

“I think you told me,” he began, “that Miss Burnham has neither father nor mother living?”

“Yes.  Miss Burnham is an orphan.”

“Has she any near relatives?”

“No.  You may speak to me as her guardian and her friend.  Are you alarmed about her?”

“I am seriously alarmed.  It is only two days since I called here last, and I see a marked change in her for the worse—­physically and morally, a change for the worse.  Don’t needlessly alarm yourself!  The case is not, I trust, entirely beyond the reach of remedy.  The great hope for us is the hope that Mr. Aldersley may still be living.  In that event, I should feel no misgivings about the future.  Her marriage would make a healthy and a happy woman of her.  But as things are, I own I dread that settled conviction in her mind that Mr. Aldersley is dead, and that her own death is soon to follow.  In her present state of health this idea (haunting her as it certainly will night and day) will have its influence on her body as well as on her mind.  Unless we can check the mischief, her last reserves of strength will give way.  If you wish for other advice, by all means send for it.  You have my opinion.”

“I am quite satisfied with your opinion,” Mrs. Crayford replied.  “For God’s sake, tell me, what can we do?”

“We can try a complete change,” said the doctor.  “We can remove her at once from this place.”

“She will refuse to leave it,” Mrs. Crayford rejoined.  “I have more than once proposed a change to her—­and she always says No.”

The doctor paused for a moment, like a man collecting his thoughts.

“I heard something on my way here,” he proceeded, “which suggests to my mind a method of meeting the difficulty that you have just mentioned.  Unless I am entirely mistaken, Miss Burnham will not say No to the change that I have in view for her.”

“What is it?” asked Mrs. Crayford, eagerly.

“Pardon me if I ask you a question, on my part, before I reply,” said the doctor.  “Are you fortunate enough to possess any interest at the Admiralty?”

“Certainly.  My father is in the Secretary’s office; and two of the Lords of the Admiralty are friends of his.”