Meanwhile Alleyne lay there perfectly motionless, breathing heavily, and with a strange fixed look in his eyes. At times a slight spasm seemed to convulse him, but only to be succeeded by long intervals of rigidity, during which Lucy plied the fan, gazing at her brother with horror-stricken eyes, while Oldroyd continued the cold bathing in the most matter-of-fact manner. "If we could get some ice," muttered Oldroyd, as as he laid a cool hand upon his patient's head; and just then Mrs Alleyne, looking very white and weak, came into the room. "I am better now," she whispered. "It was very foolish of me. What can I do?" "Nothing, at present," replied Oldroyd. "Yes; send to the Hall. I know they have ice there. Ask Sir John Day to let us have some at once." Mrs Alleyne darted an agonised look at her son, and then glided out of the room, when Lucy looked up piteously at Oldroyd. "Pray, pray, tell me the truth," she whispered; "does this mean--death?" "Heaven forbid!" he replied, quickly. "It is a bad fit, but a man may have several such as this and live to seventy. Lucy, we were looking about for a means to a certain--keep on fanning, my dear, that's right-- certain end." "I don't understand you," she said piteously. "Alleyne--Glynne--to bring them together. This is her work--thinking of her and over-toiling. Surely her place is here." Lucy heaved a sigh, but she held her peace, and busily wafted the cool air to her brother's forehead. Mrs Alleyne returned, to kneel down a short distance away, in obedience to a whisper from the doctor; and then an hour passed, and there was no change, while hope seemed to be slowly departing from poor Lucy's eyes. Suddenly a horse's feet were heard coming at a gallop, and a minute or two later there was a tap at the door. "I came on at once," said Sir John, entering on tiptoe. "My brother is having the ice well opened, and he will be over directly with one of the men. Now, Mr Oldroyd, what can I do? I have the cob outside. Shall I--don't be offended, you might like help--shall I gallop over and get Doctor Blunt." "It is not necessary," said Oldroyd thoughtfully, "but it would be more satisfactory to all parties. I should be glad if you could go, Sir John." "Yes; exactly. How is he?" "There's no change, and not likely to be for some time," replied Oldroyd, quietly. Sir John looked pityingly at Alleyne, turned to Mrs Alleyne, took her hand and pressed it gently. Then, bending over Lucy, he took her hand in his. "Keep a good heart, my dear," he whispered. "He'll be better soon;" and going out on tiptoe, it hardly seemed a minute before the regular beat of his horse's hoofs could be heard dying away in the distance. A few minutes later the rumble of wheels was heard, and directly after Eliza came to the door with a pail of ice. "And Major Day's in the dining-room, please, ma'am," whispered the girl, in a broken voice; "and is master better, and can he do anything?"