’How stupid of me not to think of a telegram!  Will you please send it out at once?’

‘From myself?’

‘Yes, please.’

She brought Mrs. Fordyce her writing materials, the telegram was written, and the maid who brought in the tea took it down-stairs.

‘Gladys, you look frightfully out of sorts,’ said Mina quickly.  ’What have you been about?  Have you been long in town?’

’Since twelve.  I have come from the Infirmary just now, walking all the way.’

‘Walking all the way!—­but from the Western, of course?’

‘No, from the Royal; it seemed quite short.  Oh, that tea is delicious!’

She drank the contents of the cup at one feverish draught, and held it out for more.  Both mother and daughter regarded her with increased anxiety in their looks.

’My dear, it is quite time you had some one to exercise a gentle authority over you.  To walk from the Royal Infirmary here!  It is past speaking of.  Child, what do you mean?  You will be ill on our hands next, and that will be a pretty to-do.  Surely you came off in post-haste this morning without your rings?’ she added, with a significant glance at the girl’s white hand, from which she had removed the glove.

Gladys took no notice of the remark; but Mina, observant as usual, saw a look she had never before seen creep into the girl’s eyes.

‘But you have never told us yet what you were doing at the Infirmary?’ she said suggestively; but Gladys preserved silence for a few minutes more.

‘Please not to ask any questions,’ she said rather hurriedly.  ’You will know everything very soon, only let me be quiet now.  I know you will, for you have always been good to me.’

A great dread instantly seized upon those who heard these words, and Mrs. Fordyce became nervous and apprehensive; but she was obliged to respect such a request, and they changed the subject, trying dismally to turn the talk into a commonplace groove.  But it was a strain and an effort on all three, and at last Gladys rose and began to walk up and down the room, giving an occasional glance out of the window, as if impatient for her lover’s coming, but it was an impatience which made Mrs. Fordyce’s heart sink, and she feared the worst.

George was no laggard lover; within the hour he rang the familiar bell.  Then the nervous restlessness which had taken possession of Gladys seemed to be quietened down, and she stood quite still on the hearth-rug, and her face was calm, but deadly pale.

‘Shall we go before George comes up?’ asked Mrs. Fordyce, involuntarily rising; but Gladys made answer, with a shade of imperious command,—­

‘No, I wish you to remain.  Mina can go, if she likes.’

Mina had not the opportunity.  A quick, eager footstep came hurrying up-stairs, and the door was thrown open with a careless hand.

‘You here, Gladys?’ he exclaimed, with all the eagerness and delight he might have been expected to display, but next moment the light died out of his face, and he knew that the bolt had fallen.  Even those who blamed him most must have commiserated the man upon whom fell that lightning glance of unutterable loathing and contempt.