"I--don't know," Christina faltered, conscious of how strangely her words must fall upon his ears, when she saw the bewilderment deepen on his face. "I was passing a house," she said quickly, before he could speak, "and a lady came running out--a very beautiful lady. She asked me to fetch a doctor. She said it was a matter of life and death, and she made me promise to ask the doctor to swear secrecy--absolute secrecy. That is all I know--really all I know. But I am sure she is urgently in need of help." "What an extraordinary story!" the doctor said in a low voice, "and you don't know who is ill? or what is the matter?" "Not in the least. I conclude the patient is a man, because the lady spoke of 'him' and 'he,' but I know nothing more than I have told you. You will go to her? You will make the promise she asks? I can't bear to think of her sad, beautiful face, and her wonderful eyes." "I will go--yes, certainly I will go," Fergusson exclaimed, after a moment's pause; "if it is really a matter of life and death, I have no choice but to go." "And--you will promise?" He looked into her face with a curiously grave and questioning glance. "You know of no reason why I should refuse to take such an unprecedented oath?" he asked. "I know nothing!" she answered emphatically. "I know of no reason, either for or against your doing it. Only--when I think of her beautiful face, and of her eyes that seemed to hold all the sorrow in the world, I feel as if you could only do what she asked you." "And if I refuse to swear?" "Then I shall refuse to tell you where the lady lives," she answered with spirit, "and I shall go and find another doctor. But--oh! please do what she asks." A smile broke over Fergusson's grave face. "I don't half like the business," he said; "I am not fond of swearing in the dark, so to speak, and what guarantee have I that I am not going to mix myself up in some discreditable affair?" "The lady I saw could not do anything discreditable," Christina exclaimed warmly; "it is unthinkable." Fergusson's smile deepened. "She has a warm advocate in you; you are not a friend of hers?" "I never saw her before," Christina answered. "I am staying near Graystone. I am nurse to Lady Cicely Redesdale's little girl, and it was only by chance that we were passing the beautiful lady's house to-day." "There comes the car," Fergusson said, as the crunching of wheels on gravel became audible; "now I will drive you as far as our ways go together, and you shall tell me where I am to go. I will not take my man, lest there should be any risk of my destination being discovered. And--I will take the required oath. Mind--I do it much against my will, but, if it is a matter of life and death, I--can't refuse it. Come--your beautiful lady's secrets will be absolutely safe with me."