"He's always saying that," Jenkins whispered to her--"'No way out of it!' He keeps coming back to that as if--as if there was something on his mind." Cynthia raised her hand to silence him. The torrent of words broke out again. "It was not all my fault. It was Flossy's fault; but one cannot betray a woman, one's sister--can one? Even she would say that. But she has gone away, and she will never come back again. Cynthia--Cynthia! I might call as long as I pleased--she would never come. Why don't you fetch her, some of you? So many people here, and nobody will bring Cynthia to me! Cynthia, Cynthia, my love!" "I am here, dear--I am here, beside you," said Cynthia. But he did not seem to understand. She touched his hot hand with her own, and smoothed his fevered brow. The restless tongue went on. "She has given me up, and I shall never see her any more! She gave me too hard a task; I could not do it--not all at once. It is done now. Yes, I have done it, and it has divided us for ever. Why did you make me speak, Cynthia? He was not miserable--he was happy. But I am to be miserable for ever and ever now. There is no way out of the misery--no way out of it--darkness and loneliness all my life, and worse afterwards. Cynthia, Cynthia, you are sending me to perdition!" He half rose from his bed, and made as if he would struggle with her. Jenkins came to the rescue; but Cynthia would not move aside. "Lie down, dearest," she was saying--"lie down and rest. Cynthia is here--Cynthia is with you; she will never leave you any more unless you send her away. Lie down, my darling, and try to rest." He did not understand the words; but the sweet rhythm of her voice caught his ear. He fell back upon the pillows, staring, helpless, subdued. She kept her cool hand upon his brow. "Is that Cynthia?" he said suddenly. "Yes, dearest, it is Cynthia." "How kind of her to come!" said Hubert, looking away from the girl as if Cynthia were on the other side of the room. "But she should not look so angrily at me. I have done what I could, you know. It is all right now, Cynthia, I have done what I could--I have saved him--indeed I have! I'll take the punishment--no way out of it but that! A life sentence--a life sentence for me!" The words died away upon his lips in a confused babble that they could not understand. He murmured inarticulately for a time, but there came long pauses between the words, his eyelids drooped a little, and he grew perceptibly less flushed. In about half an hour the doctor came into the room. He cast a swift look at Cynthia, and another at his patient; then he nodded sagaciously. "Better," he said curtly. "I thought so. Some more ice, Jenkins. He has been quieter since you came, I conclude, madam?" Cynthia bowed her head. "You are the lady for whom he has been asking so often? I know your face--Miss Cynthia West, I believe? Can you stay?" "Yes," said Cynthia, without hesitation.