"Sit down," I answered; "you will not be fit long to nurse anyone unless you look after yourself. What is the matter with you? You are greatly changed!" "Did I not tell you in my letter that I am in great trouble?" Miss Temple's words were interrupted by a knock at the door of the boudoir. She said "Come in," and a manservant entered. He approached Lady Violet's little writing-table, disturbed a book or two, and finally retreated with an "A B C" in his hand, apologizing as he did so. "Do you know who that man is?" asked Miss Temple. [Illustration: "HE APPROACHED LADY VIOLET'S WRITING-DESK AND DISTURBED A BOOK OR TWO."] "One of the servants," I replied; "never mind him--tell me your trouble as quickly as possible." "He is connected with it, unfortunately. He is not one of the usual servants of the house, although he wears the livery. That man is a detective from Scotland Yard, and he came into the room just now to watch me. He, or his fellow detective, for there are two here, watch me wherever I go. On one excuse or another, they enter each room where I am found." "What do you mean?" I asked. "I will tell you in as few words as possible--can you wonder that I am changed?" "I am lost in conjecture as to what you can possibly mean," I answered, looking at her anxiously. In truth I had cause for my anxiety. Her fine face looked absolutely aged and worn. Her eyes were almost too large--their expression was strained--they had heavy black lines under them. Her mouth showed extreme dejection. When I remembered the blooming, healthy girl who had gone to Beeches two months ago, I was appalled by the change. "Speak," I said; "I am deeply interested. You know that I will do everything in my power to help you." "This is my story," she said: "Lady Violet got quite well--I was much attached to her, we were very happy--it seemed like the old life back again, when my mother was alive and I had a luxurious home. Lord and Lady Erstfield treated me more like a daughter than a nurse; Lady Violet was my dear sister. Then Captain Ponsonby came. He proposed, and was accepted. Immediately after the engagement Lady Violet drooped; she no longer gave me her confidence; she lost her appetite; she became constrained and silent. Once or twice I caught her crying--she turned away when I tried to question her. Lord and Lady Erstfield noticed no change, and Captain Ponsonby came and went as an honoured guest. No one seemed to notice the efforts Lady Violet made to seem at home in his society.