"It isn't about myself," said Mrs. Greville in a strained tone of voice, "it's about Rachel." Luke's face cleared at once. "Oh well," he said laughing, "you may make your mind easy about her. I left her this morning in good spirits." He was much relieved. "My poor boy!" said his mother again, "You must prepare for a great blow." He began to wonder if the slight stroke his mother had had, affected her brain. He put his hand caressingly on hers. "Let's have it out," he said with a smile. "I don't think what ever it is that it can affect me as much as you imagine." "Rachel is not well," said his mother watching his face anxiously. "She saw the doctor yesterday." "Not well!" said Luke astonished. "Why, what is the matter with her? She was quite well anyhow this morning. Has she had an accident?" "No. It is worse than an accident. The doctor thinks very seriously of her." Luke rose and stood before his mother. All the colour had left his face. "Tell me outright what you mean," he said sharply. "What is wrong with her?" "Both her heart and her lungs." Luke stood quite still and silent. He was always silent and unnaturally quiet when agitated in his mind. "When did she see the doctor?" he asked at last. "Yesterday." "Yesterday!" "Yes. The Bishop, you remember, called on her. He made her promise to consult him." "And why didn't she tell me?" said Luke. And the agonised expression in his eyes showed his mother how intensely he was moved. "I don't know, except that she wanted to save you anxiety. She has not told me either and I don't suppose that she has any idea that Dr. Fleming came round to see me about her." Luke dropped into a chair. Then he looked up again at his mother. "Did he give any directions or say what should be done?" he asked. "I'm afraid he did my dear boy. He mentioned something about a Sanatorium, but anyhow, he said it was absolutely necessary for her to have perfect rest and a change of air and environment. In fact Luke," she added, and her voice trembled, "he seemed to think it a matter of life and death." Luke groaned and covered his face with his hands. "He says," continued his mother, "that she has evidently been doing too much and has not taken care of herself. He particularly dwelt on her thinness. Apparently she has not had nourishing food." Luke groaned again. "I feel Rachel is greatly to be blamed for having been so careless about her health," added Mrs. Greville. Luke looked up, and his mother was startled by the stern expression of his face. "Rachel to be blamed!" he repeated. "I am to be blamed, not Rachel." There was anguish in his tone of voice. He picked up the letter from London which had fallen to the ground, ramming it into his coat pocket. Then he sprang up and looked at his watch. "I shall go and see the doctor at once," he said. And without another word, he hurried away.