Mrs. Melbury really thought matters much worse than she represented,

and Grace knew that she thought so. She sat down dazed for a few

minutes, returning a negative to her step-mother's inquiry if she could

do anything for her. "But please go into the bedroom," Grace said, on

second thoughts, "and see if all is ready there--in case it is

serious." Mrs. Melbury thereupon called Grammer, and they did as

directed, supplying the room with everything they could think of for

the accommodation of an injured man.

Nobody was left in the lower part of the house. Not many minutes

passed when Grace heard a knock at the door--a single knock, not loud

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enough to reach the ears of those in the bedroom. She went to the top

of the stairs and said, faintly, "Come up," knowing that the door

stood, as usual in such houses, wide open.

Retreating into the gloom of the broad landing she saw rise up the

stairs a woman whom at first she did not recognize, till her voice

revealed her to be Suke Damson, in great fright and sorrow. A streak

of light from the partially closed door of Grace's room fell upon her

face as she came forward, and it was drawn and pale.

"Oh, Miss Melbury--I would say Mrs. Fitzpiers," she said, wringing her

hands. "This terrible news. Is he dead? Is he hurted very bad? Tell

me; I couldn't help coming; please forgive me, Miss Melbury--Mrs.

Fitzpiers I would say!"

Grace sank down on the oak chest which stood on the landing, and put

her hands to her now flushed face and head. Could she order Suke

Damson down-stairs and out of the house? Her husband might be brought

in at any moment, and what would happen? But could she order this

genuinely grieved woman away?

There was a dead silence of half a minute or so, till Suke said, "Why

don't ye speak? Is he here? Is he dead? If so, why can't I see

him--would it be so very wrong?"

Before Grace had answered somebody else came to the door below--a

foot-fall light as a roe's. There was a hurried tapping upon the

panel, as if with the impatient tips of fingers whose owner thought not

whether a knocker were there or no. Without a pause, and possibly

guided by the stray beam of light on the landing, the newcomer ascended

the staircase as the first had done. Grace was sufficiently visible,

and the lady, for a lady it was, came to her side.

"I could make nobody hear down-stairs," said Felice Charmond, with lips

whose dryness could almost be heard, and panting, as she stood like one

ready to sink on the floor with distress. "What is--the matter--tell

me the worst! Can he live?" She looked at Grace imploringly, without

perceiving poor Suke, who, dismayed at such a presence, had shrunk away

into the shade.




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