“We are sure that all danger is past, but the doctor has not seen her this morning,” said Miss Conyers. “I humbly beg your pardon, Miss,” said old Bob, who was waiting on the table. “I humbly beg your pardon, Miss, but the doctor _have_ seen her this morning. He have been here airly, very airly indeed, Miss—in fact, before day.” “Indeed!” exclaimed Miss Conyers, whose memory immediately reverted to Elfie’s dream, or vision, and her own—Britomarte’s—version of it. “Yes, indeed, Miss. He rousened me up outen my sleep to let him in.” Miss Conyers here looked archly at Elfie, whose face exhibited a curiously blended expression of mirth, relief and mortification; for she was struck with the ludicrous aspect the affair now assumed, and she was glad to have a supernatural mystery cleared up; but she was also ashamed of the part she had played in the farce. “Do you know at what precise hour the doctor came?” inquired Miss Conyers. “Yes, Miss. It must abeen ’bout ’tween one and two o’clock. Way I know it is this: Just arter he came down stairs, and I let him out ag’in, I heerd the hall clock strike two.” “How long do you suppose he was up stairs?” inquired Miss Conyers. “Well, nigh upon an hour I should say, Miss. You see I kept awake to let him out.” Britomarte looked at Elfie and burst into an irrepressible fit of laughter. Elfie pouted, sulked, and finally caught the infection and laughed heartily for company. “There seems to be some joke here that we of the masculine persuasion are shut out from enjoying. Pray, may I, without indiscretion, inquire into its nature?” asked Major Fielding. And Justin and Ethel, by their looks at least, seconded the motion. “It is Elfie’s secret,” laughed Miss Conyers. “Well, you may tell it, Britomarte,” laughed also Elfie. “It seems, then,” said Miss Conyers, “that this young lady had the watch; that, wearied out with many days of lost rest, she fell asleep at her post; and, having indulged in new cheese for supper, she had the nightmare; and so, when the doctor paid his nocturnal visit, she took him for the Rebel General Eastworth, and because she couldn’t wake, imagined that he had chloroformed her to prevent her giving the alarm.” And here Major Fielding burst into a laugh, in which he was joined by Justin, Ethel, Britomarte and even Elfie. But then their hearts were lightened of so great a load that it was easy to rouse them to laughter. After breakfast, Major Fielding and Captain Ethel, knowing that they, in any case, would not be permitted to see Miss Rosenthal that day, and feeling relieved of all anxiety on her account, went out to take a walk, and transact some business that had been neglected during Erminie’s illness. As soon as Erminie was awake, and had been refreshed by ablutions and a change of dress, Justin was summoned to her room.