"She would not come. We were friends once--very dear friends--I hoped to marry her. Now I am poor and broken in health, I must give up the thought." "Could you bear to see her? Would it not make you ill?" "What do you mean, doctor?" he asked, quickly. "I mean that Miss Blagden is below. She wishes to see you." "Can it be? Are you a magician? How could you know of her?" "Never mind that. Shall I bring her up?" "Yes." CHAPTER XXIII. AT LAST. Jane Blagden paused a moment at the entrance to the room, as if to gather strength for the interview. I had never seen her so moved. Then she opened the door and entered with a firm step. He lay on the bed with his eyes fixed eagerly on the door. As she entered he tried to raise his head. "Jane!" he exclaimed, eagerly. She placed her hand for a moment on her heart, as if to still its throbbing. Then she walked quickly to the bed. "Philip!" she said. "At last!" he cried, in a low voice. "Can you forgive me, Philip, dear Philip?" "If there is anything to forgive." "There is--much. I am afraid you have suffered." "I have." "And so have I. Since we parted I have been lonely--desolate. I let my pride and my obstinacy come between us--but I have been punished." She had drawn a chair to the bed-side, and sitting down took his hand in hers. It was hot, feverish. "You are very ill, I fear." "I shall be better now," he murmured. "It is worth much to have you beside me." I looked at the face of the Disagreeable Woman. I saw upon it an expression I had never seen before--an expression that made her look ten years younger. I could not have believed in the tenderness, the heart-warmth which it showed. "Philip," she said, "you must get well for my sake." "And if I do?" he asked, eagerly. "It shall be as you wish." He closed his eyes, and a look of happiness and content lighted up his features. But soon there was a change. It was evident that the excitement had been too much for him. "Miss Blagden," I said, "I think you must go. Our patient is too weak to stand any more excitement or agitation." "Can I not stay here as his nurse?" she pleaded. "It will be better to have a trained nurse--one who will not agitate him." "As you think best, doctor," she said, meekly, "but I will stay in the house. How soon can you send a nurse?" "Within an hour." "Do so, and I will stay here till then. If he wakes I will leave the room." Within an hour a trained nurse was installed in the sick chamber. Miss Blagden made an arrangement with Mrs. Graham to occupy a room which had fortunately been vacated the day previous. It was small and uncomfortable, but she cared little for this. CHAPTER XXIV. THE LIGHT OF HOPE. Then commenced the struggle with disease. Philip Douglas was very ill. I had not exaggerated the danger. He was unconscious most of the time, but in spite of that he seemed to have a dim consciousness that there was some good in store for him.