Fear, loathing, frightened incredulity that this could really be herself, stiffened her body and clinched her hands under her parted lips.  On them her hot breath fell irregularly.

Rigid, motionless, she lay, breathing faster and more feverishly.  Tears came after a long while, and with them relaxation and lassitude.  She felt that the dreadful thing which had seized and held her was letting go its hold, was freeing her body and mind; and as it slowly released her and passed on its terrible silent way, she awoke and sat up with a frightened cry—­to find herself lying on her own bed in utter darkness.

A moment later her bedroom door opened without a sound and the light from the hall streamed over Kathleen’s bare shoulders and braided hair.

“Geraldine?”

The girl scarcely recognised Kathleen’s altered voice.  She lay listening, silent, motionless, staring at the white figure.

“Dearest, I thought you called me.  May I come in?”

“I am not well.”

But Kathleen entered and stood beside the bed, looking down at her in the dim light.

“Dearest,” she began tremulously, “Duane told me you had a headache and had gone to your room to lie down, so I didn’t disturb you——­”

“Duane,” faltered the girl, “is he here?  What did he say?”

“He was in the library before dinner when I came in, and he warned me not to waken you.  Do you know what time it is?”

“No.”

“It is after midnight....  If you feel ill enough to lie here, you ought to be undressed.  May I help you?”

There was no answer.  For a moment Kathleen stood looking down at the girl in silence; then a sudden shivering seized her; she strove to control it, but her knees seemed to give way under it and she dropped down beside the bed, throwing both arms around Geraldine’s neck.

[Illustration:  “Oh, the horror of it!—­the shame, the agonised surprise.”]

“Oh, don’t, don’t!” she whimpered.  “It is too terrible!  It ruined your father and your grandfather!  Darling, I couldn’t bear to tell you this before, but now I’ve got to tell you!  It is in your blood.  Seagraves die of it!  Do you understand?”

“W-what?” stammered the girl.

“That all their lives they did what—­what you have done to-day—­that you have inherited their terrible inclinations.  Even as a little child you frightened me.  Have you forgotten what you and I talked over and cried over after your first party?”

The girl said slowly:  “I don’t know how—­it—­happened, Kathleen.  Duane came in....  I tasted what he had in his glass....  I don’t know why I did it.  I wish I were dead!”

“There is only one thing to do—­never to touch anything—­anything——­”

“Y-yes, I know that I must not.  But how was I to know before?  Will you tell me?”

“You understand now, thank God!”

“N-not exactly....  Other girls seem to do as they please without danger....  It is amazing that such a horrible thing should happen to me——­”