"The complete breakdown only took place yesterday, but Miss Temple assures me that Violet has been failing for some time. Her father and I noticed on one or two occasions that she seemed pale and languid, but as there was a good deal to excite her, we put her fatigue down to that source. Under your judicious treatment and the admirable care Miss Temple gave her, we considered her perfectly recovered, and it did not enter into our minds that a recurrence of the old attack was possible." "When you speak of Lady Violet having much to excite her, you doubtless allude to her engagement?" I said. "I saw it officially announced in the _Morning Post_. I judged from it that she had quite recovered." Lady Erstfield coloured. "We thought so," she said; "her father and I both thought so. We were much pleased at the contemplated marriage, and we imagined that our child was happy, too. Captain Ponsonby is all that anyone can desire." "And you have reason not to be satisfied now?" I asked. "The fact is this," said Lady Erstfield, shortly: "Violet is unhappy--she does not wish the engagement to go on. She told Miss Temple so this morning. I have seen my dear child on the subject an hour ago--we cannot account for her caprice in this matter." "I will see Lady Violet now, if you will permit me," I said. "The engagement is, doubtless, the cause of this strange breakdown. Will you take me to her room?" Lady Erstfield led the way without a word. I found my patient even worse than her mother had given me to understand. In addition to much nervous trouble, she had unquestionably taken a chill of some sort, and symptoms of pneumonia were manifesting themselves. When I bent over her, I noticed the deep flush on her cheeks, her eyes were closed--her breathing was short and hurried. Miss Temple was standing by the bedside--she gave me an earnest glance, her face was as pale as Lady Violet's was flushed. I noticed that Lady Erstfield avoided speaking to the nurse, who, on her part, moved slightly away as she approached. The despair, however, which must have filled the poor mother's heart as she watched her suffering child might in itself account for her manner. I was very anxious to see the nurse alone, and asked Lady Erstfield if I could do so. "Certainly," she answered; "I will watch here until Miss Temple is able to resume her duties." "I will not be long away," answered Beryl. She took me at once into Lady Violet's pretty little boudoir and shut the door. "I must be very quick," she said, "my place is with Violet. You think her very ill?" "I do," I answered. "Her life is in danger. She is threatened with pneumonia. If the symptoms grow worse, she will not have strength to bear up under the attack." "Oh, then, I must not think of myself--even now I manage to soothe her as no one else can. Let me go back!"