"The carriage back from the station, my dear," whispered Aunt Anne. "The new nurse is in the hall. Will you come down and speak to her at once?" "Yes, Aunt. Thank Heaven, she has come." He hurried out of the room and down the stairs to where, in the dim light, a tall cloaked figure stood by her humble-looking luggage. And as he went he had made up in his mind the words he would say to her about getting some refreshment at once and joining him in the sick chamber, where a bed had been made up in the dressing room for her use. But Neil Elthorne did not speak the words he had meant to say, for, as the visitor turned at his step, he stopped short with the blood rushing to his brain, and a strange sensation of vertigo attacking him as he faltered out: "Good Heavens! Nurse Elisia! Has he sent you?" CHAPTER NINE. OFF TO HIGHTOFT. "There, you are better now." "No, I'm not." "Yes, indeed you are. This has nothing to do with the operation, I assure you." "Then, pray, what is it?" This question very sharply, and the patient moved in her bed in a way that showed very little feebleness. "Simply hysteria." "What! Sterricks?" "Yes, a form of hysterics." "There!" cried the patient, with a triumphant tone in her voice. "I knew you didn't know nothing about it. I never had sterricks in my life." "Because you have always been a woman in a vigorous state of health. Latterly you have been brought down rather low." "'Taint that," said the woman sharply, "it's what's done to me here, and the shameful neglect. It's horrid; I'm half killed, and then Mr Neil goes away and leaves me to that horrible old man, and as soon as Mr Neil's gone, the other leaves me to die." "I am afraid you are a very foolish woman," said the nurse quietly. "I can assure you that you are getting well fast." "Oh, yes, I know. And you are as bad as they are. It's shameful!" "You have been working yourself up to think you are being neglected, but your troubles are imaginary." "Oh, yes, I know," cried the woman angrily. "Pray try and be reasonable," said the nurse, speaking in a voice full of patient resignation. "Go on, pray, ma'am. You've all got me down here and are trampling on me. I'm unreasonable now, am I?" "I am afraid you are a little," said the nurse, smiling as she rearranged the bedclothes. "Mr Elthorne went away because he was worn out with attending the poor people here, and Sir Denton was telegraphed for to attend some unfortunate gentleman who had met with an accident." "Then he oughtn't to have gone," cried the woman loudly. "Pray, hush," said the nurse. "You are hurting yourself and upsetting the other patients."