Lady Scarlett looked at the other appealingly, and he confirmed his confrere's words. But still she was not convinced, so pale and motionless Sir James lay, till the doctor signed to her to bend over and place her ear against her husband's breast. Then, as she heard the regular heavy pulsation of his heart, she uttered a low, sobbing, hysterical cry, turned to Scales, caught his hand in hers, kissed it again and again, and then crouched lower upon her knees at her husband's side, weeping and praying during his heavy sleep. The local doctor stayed for a couple of hours, and then, after a short consultation with Scales, shook hands. "You have done wonders," he said on leaving. "No," said Scales quietly; "I only persevered." He found Aunt Sophia kneeling by Lady Scarlett's side, pressing her to rise and partake of some tea which the old lady had ready for her, but only to obtain negative motions of the suffering little woman's head, till Scales bent down and whispered-- "Yes, you must take it, Lady Scarlett; you will want all your strength perhaps when your husband wakes." His voice roused her and she rose at once, caught his hand in hers and kissed it again before going to a side-table and eating and drinking whatever Aunt Sophia placed in her hands. "She'd make a splendid nurse," said the doctor to himself, "so obedient and patient. I didn't think she had it in her, but somehow I don't quite like her and her ways." Just then he turned and met Prayle's eyes fixed upon him rather curiously, and it seemed to him, in his own rather excited state, that his friend's cousin was watching him in no very amiable way. The thought passed off on the moment and he went down on one knee by Scarlett's extemporised couch. For by this time the patient had been made comfortable where he lay with blankets and cushions. The doctor too had found time to change, and had prescribed for himself what he told Aunt Sophia was the tip-top of recuperators in such a case, a strong cup of tea with a tablespoonful of brandy. "Poor old boy!" he said tenderly, as he laid his hand upon Scarlett's breast. "Yes, your old heart's doing its duty once again, and, and-- confound it! what a weak fool I am."