"Well, if you come to that, Sir Hilton, that's what I want too about my gal. If it's all the same, I'll go back first." "That you don't," cried Syd, shifting his hold from uncle to father-in-law. "There'll be row enough without having that in the mess. Hark! Can't you hear talking?" he whispered. "Aunt's having it over with Molly. Let them settle it before we go in." "Look here, don't you talk like that, my boy, to one old enough to be your grandfather," protested the trainer. "You're not standing up for my gal's rights as you should do, and if you don't I must." "But one thing at a time, old man. Let's get uncle quieted down first." "Quieted down?" cried Sir Hilton. "What do you mean? Here, Syd, my throat's on fire. Fill that jug at the tap." "Won't hurt him, will it?" whispered Syd. "I d'know, my lad; I'd charnsh it now." The jug was filled at the tap over the sink and handed to Sir Hilton, who drank long and deeply, setting it down with a loud "Ha!" just as a familiar voice rang out loudly-- "Hilton! Hilton! Are you there?" For as the pair dashed out after Sir Hilton the door through which they passed closed with a dull, jarring thud, which seemed to bring down another flower-pot in the conservatory; but this was not heard by Lady Lisle, who entered the drawing-room excitedly, closely followed by Lady Tilborough and the doctor, all looking pallid and all-nightish in the yellow light of the candles mingled with the pale grey dawn stealing in. "Now, pray listen to me, my dear Lady Lisle," said Lady Tilborough, in a soothing voice. "Do be reasonable." "I will not listen to you, madam," cried Lady Lisle, passionately. "Pray do now. For your own sake as well as your husband's." "He is no husband of mine," cried Lady Lisle, excitedly. "Be reasonable. Come, think, my dear madam. You cannot wish to have a scandal. Your servants are in the hall. You cannot want them to hear." "They must hear--the whole world will hear. Oh, it is dreadful, dreadful!" "Say a word to her, for heaven's sake, Jack!" whispered Lady Tilborough; and the doctor stepped forward. "Yes, Lady Lisle," he said firmly, "I am bound to speak--as, temporarily, your medical attendant." "Wretched man, why did you not let me die?" cried Lady Lisle, pacing up and down and wringing her hands. "Because I wished to save an estimable lady for a reconciliation with an old friend; for really, my dear madam, when you calm down, you will see that you have been most unreasonable." "Unreasonable? Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the unhappy woman, hysterically. "Yes, my dear madam; most unreasonable. First in insisting upon leaving Oakleigh at this extremely early hour in the morning, after you had been suffering from a congeries of hysterical fits. Recollect what you promised me." "I recollect nothing but my wrongs," cried Lady Lisle.