The game waxed exciting again. The enemy (the Jocelyn party) was alert, but powerless. The three sisters were almost wrought to perform a sacrifice far exceeding Evan's. They nearly decided to summon him to the house: but the matter being broached at table one evening, Major Strike objected to it so angrily that they abandoned it, with the satisfactory conclusion that if they did wrong it was the Major's fault. Meantime Juliana had much on her conscience. She knew Evan to be innocent, and she allowed Rose to think him guilty. Could she bring her heart to join them? That was not in her power: but desiring to be lulled by a compromise, she devoted herself to make his relatives receive him; and on days of bitter winds she would drive out to meet him, answering all expostulations with--'I should not go if he were here.' The game waxed hot. It became a question whether Evan should be admitted to the house in spite of the Major. Juliana now made an extraordinary move. Having the Count with her in the carriage one day, she stopped in front of Mr. Goren's shop, and Evan had to come out. The Count returned home extremely mystified. Once more the unhappy Countess was obliged to draw bills on the fabulous; and as she had recommenced the system, which was not without its fascinations to her, Juliana, who had touched the spring, had the full benefit of it. The Countess had deceived her before--what of that? She spoke things sweet to hear. Who could be false that gave her heart food on which it lived? One night Juliana returned from her drive alarmingly ill. She was watched through the night by Caroline and the Countess alternately. In the morning the sisters met. 'She has consented to let us send for a doctor,' said Caroline. 'Her chief desire seems to be a lawyer,' said the Countess. 'Yes, but the doctor must be sent for first.' 'Yes, indeed! But it behoves us to previse that the doctor does not kill her before the lawyer comes.' Caroline looked at Louisa, and said: 'Are you ignorant?' 'No--what?' cried the Countess eagerly. 'Evan has written to tell Lady Jocelyn the state of her health, and--' 'And that naturally has aggravated her malady!' The Countess cramped her long fingers. 'The child heard it from him yesterday! Oh, I could swear at that brother!' She dropped into a chair and sat rigid and square-jawed, a sculpture of unutterable rage. In the afternoon Lady Jocelyn arrived. The doctor was there--the lawyer had gone. Without a word of protest Juliana accompanied her ladyship to Beckley Court. Here was a blow! But Andrew was preparing one more mighty still. What if the Cogglesby Brewery proved a basis most unsound? Where must they fall then? Alas! on that point whence they sprang. If not to Perdition--Tailordom! CHAPTER XLI REVEALS AN ABOMINABLE PLOT OF THE BROTHERS COGGLESBY