Thus rudely Myra awoke to the understanding of her liberty. At once, her whole outlook on life was changed. All things bore a new significance. Ronnie and Billy ceased to be comforts. Ronnie's nervous misery assumed a new importance; and, coupled with her own suspicions, filled her with a dismayed horror. The duchess's veiled jokes took point, and hurt. A sense of unprotected loneliness engulfed her. Every man became a prospective and dreaded suitor; every woman's remarks seemed to hold an innuendo. Her name in the papers distracted her. She recognised the morbidness of her condition, even while she felt unable to cope with it; and, leaving Shenstone suddenly, came up to town, and consulted Sir Deryck Brand. "Oh, my friend," she said, "help me! I shall never face life again." The doctor heard her patiently, aiding the recital by his strong understanding silence. Then he said, quietly: "Dear lady, the diagnosis is not difficult. Also there is but one possible remedy." He paused. Lady Ingleby's imploring eyes and tense expectancy, besought his verdict. "A rest-cure," said the doctor, with finality. "Horrors, no!" cried Myra; "Would you shut me up within four walls; cram me with rice pudding and every form of food I most detest; send a dreadful woman to pound, roll, and pommel me, and tell me gruesome stories; keep out all my friends, all letters, all books, all news; and, after six weeks send me out into the world again, with my figure gone, and not a sane thought upon any subject under the sun? Dear doctor, think of it! Stout, and an idiot! Oh, give me something in a bottle, to shake, and take three times a day--and let me go!" The doctor smiled. He was famed for his calm patience. "Your somewhat highly coloured description, dear Lady Ingleby, applies to a form of rest-cure such as I rarely, if ever, recommend. In your case it would be worse than useless. We should gain nothing by shutting you up with the one person who is doing you harm, and from whom we must contrive your escape." "The one person--?" queried Myra, wide-eyed. "A charming person," smiled the doctor, "where the rest of mankind are concerned; but very bad for you just now." "But--whom?" questioned Myra, again. "Whom can you mean?"