"Then," said Mrs. Dorriman, in so delighted a state of mind, and seeing everything so completely _couleur de rose_, "before very long there will very likely not be any smoke, it will all be consumed," a supposition proving clearly enough that she was unreasonably hopeful, since doing it is economical and is said to be easy, and is never done. They were a little alarmed to see that the doctor was watching for their arrival. "Mr. Sandford had rather a bad attack but is better again. He wishes to see you all if you will go to his room. If he is much agitated I have some drops I should like to give myself, so I will wait here, if you please." He said all this in a matter-of-fact tone, strangely different from the state of excitement poor Mrs. Dorriman was in. "Does Mr. Sandford wish to see me?" asked Mr. Stevens. "You were particularly mentioned," answered the doctor. Mr. Sandford was sitting in front of his writing-table, his right hand shading his face. "I am sorry you have been ill, brother," said Mrs. Dorriman, gently. He took no notice, and did not raise his head. "Is Christie here?" he asked. There was a pause, and the three stood full of a suppressed agitation. Even Mr. Stevens, as he looked on the terrible signs of suffering on the haggard and miserable face before him, was conscious of a far softer and more forgiving spirit. Christie came at once and stood near the door, a triumphant expression upon her features. Still keeping his hand so, partly screening his face, Mr. Sandford began to speak in a low clear distinct voice, without inflections or emphasis--a voice that seemed hardly to belong to him. "Anne, I have wronged you most. I must speak to you, and the others must hear. "You have sometimes, in old days ... you used often to ask me who my father's first wife was--you remember? Who my mother was?" "I remember." "My father, our father, was only married once, Anne, and your mother was the only wife he ever had." There was a breathless silence--Mrs. Dorriman not fully understanding the purport of his words. "Therefore," continued Mr. Sandford in a hard tone, speaking almost as one under the influence of some powerful narcotic, "I have no rights, no name. I am not the heir, I never was the master of Sandford!" "But you are my father's son?" exclaimed Mrs. Dorriman in a tone of intense suspense. "I am--but, Anne, I am his nameless son. He never married my mother. Now do you understand?" Mrs. Dorriman turned to Mr. Stevens, her face pale, she was trembling. She was evidently intensely surprised. He took her hand in his and spoke to her, in a low voice, reassuring words. "Before you all judge me, hear me!" continued the unhappy man, "for my temptation was great and my trial a terrible one! "As the only son--brought up unchecked and with power in my hands--it was not till I was nearly twenty-five, madly in love with my wife, that my father told me the truth.