They were at the door when Bessie screamed, for Deb had just opened it, and they all came running into the keeping-room to see what was amiss. "Dear heart, have you killed her?" exclaimed Deborah, when she saw her mistress looking white and lifeless as a corpse, leaning back in the stiff, upright chair, with her arms hanging limp by her side. But the sight of her sister, even in this condition, was a relief to Madam Lowe; and she hoped no one among her friends now would hear that she had been in prison. "When did she come home?" she asked; pushing Bessie aside, and turning to Deborah, who stood wringing her hands in a helpless fashion. "This morning—not long ago," wailed Deb. "Oh, if she has got the gaol fever whatever shall we do!" The mere suggestion made Madam Lowe start aside with horror, but Audrey was kissing her aunt's white cheek. "Get some burnt feathers," she said, turning to Bessie, for this was the most approved remedy for fainting in those days. Bessie knew where to find plenty of scraps of feather in the workshop, and soon returned with a handful. In the meanwhile Madam Lowe had somewhat recovered from her fright, and was directing Deborah to get other remedies while she unfastened her dress. But it was Audrey who supported her aunt's head against her breast, and smoothed back the soft brown hair, while her mother held the feathers to her nose, and applied the various remedies approved by our forefathers for a fainting fit. But Dame Drayton showed no sign of rallying for some time, and at last a doctor was sent for; but Deborah and Audrey were both warned against saying a word about the occurrences of the previous day. "We can tell him she has had bad news, and that it has given her a shock," said the lady, who was excessively afraid of having her name mentioned in connection with the Quakers. As soon as the doctor saw Dame Drayton he ordered her to bed, and helped to carry her there, and as bleeding was the favourite remedy for all diseases, he proceeded to weaken her still further by opening a vein in her arm. That she should be utterly prostrate and unable to speak when she did at last recover consciousness was not very surprising, considering the treatment applied for her relief. She smiled faintly when she saw her sister bending over her, and recognised Audrey beside her. "My children!" she managed to say at last. "They are quite well; but I think these others ought to be sent away, for I have no doubt it is from harbouring Quakers that all this trouble has come upon you," said Madam Lowe, a little severely. But the invalid, weak as she was, managed to shake her head at this suggestion. "Let them stay," she whispered as energetically as she could speak.