He remained very still for some minutes, so that no one should see the big hot tears that dropped in a most unprofessional fashion upon the blankets and glistened there. But it was a failure as far as one person was concerned, and he might just as well have taken out his handkerchief, wiped his eyes, and had one of those good sonorous blows of the nose indulged in by Englishmen when they feel affected; for under the most painful circumstances, however natural, it is of course exceedingly unmanly of the first made human being to cry. That luxury and relief of an overladen spirit is reserved for the Eves of creation. All the same though, there are few men who do not weep in times of intense mental agony. They almost invariably, however, and by long practice and custom, the result probably of assistance in accordance with Darwinian laws, contrive to switch the lines or rather ducts of their tears, shunt these saline globules of bitterness, and cry through the nose. "There! he's going on capitally now," he said, after a time.--"Mr Prayle, you need not, stay." "Oh, I would rather wait," said Prayle. "He may have a relapse." "Oh, I shall be with him," said the doctor confidently. "I will ask you to leave us now, Mr Prayle. I want to keep the room quiet and cool." Arthur Prayle was disposed to resist; but a doctor is an autocrat in a sick-chamber, whom no one but a patient dare disobey; and the result was that Prayle unwillingly left the room. "Got rid of him," muttered the doctor.--"Now for the old maid," who, by the way, has behaved like a trump. "I don't think you need stay, Miss Raleigh," he whispered. "You must be very tired now." "Yes, Doctor Scales," she said quietly; "but I will not go to bed. You may want a little help in the night." "I shall not leave my husband's side," said Lady Scarlett firmly.--"Oh, Doctor Scales, pray, pray, tell me the truth; keep nothing back. Is there any danger?" "Upon my word, as a man, Lady Scarlett, there is none." "You are not deceiving me?" "Indeed, no. Here is the case for yourself: he has been nearly drowned." "Yes, yes," sobbed Lady Scarlett. "Well, he has his breathing apparatus in order again, and is fast asleep. There is no disease." "No; I understand that," said Lady Scarlett excitedly; "but--a relapse?" "Relapse?" said the doctor in a low voice and laughing quietly. "Well, the only form of relapse he could have would be to tumble in again." "Don't; pray, don't laugh at me, doctor," said Lady Scarlett piteously. "You cannot tell what I suffer." "O yes, I can," he said kindly. "If I laughed then, it was only to give you confidence. He will wake up with a bad nervous headache, and that's all.--Now, suppose you go and lie down." "No; I shall stay with my husband," she said firmly. "I cannot go."