"I think my patient is a shade easier," I said. The poor mother uttered a thankful exclamation. "I will go and sit by her now for an hour or two," she answered. "I have had a long sleep and am refreshed. Won't you lie down, Dr. Halifax?--I will call you if Violet requires anything." I told her that I would go into the outer room and lie on the sofa. I was by habit a light sleeper, and the least word from Lady Erstfield would bring me back to my patient. I lay down, and in a moment was asleep. I had not slept long when the sound of conversation in the sick room aroused me. I sprang to my feet, and went back there at once. Lady Erstfield did not hear me. She was standing, facing the bed. Lady Violet was sitting up and speaking in an eager voice. "I am better," she said; "mother, I want the diamonds--mother, get them for me--I want to feel them and to look at them--they will comfort me--mother, do get them for me at once--the Ponsonby diamonds, you know what I mean--_do_, mother, dear, fetch me the Ponsonby diamonds." "You must lie down," I said, going to the other side of the bed; "here, let me cover you up." She turned to look at me. I forced her back on her pillow and put the bedclothes over her. "Who are you?" she inquired, gazing at me with her bright, too bright, eyes. "Your friend and doctor--my name is Halifax." "Oh, have you come back again, Dr. Halifax? I like you very much. Thank you for sending me Beryl. I love Beryl. Where is she now?" "Lying down, tired out; you must not disturb her: your mother and I will do anything for you that you want. Now you must not talk any more. Let me give you this drink." She allowed me to put my hand under her head to raise her, and drank a little milk and soda-water, with a sigh of relief. "That is nice," she said; "I am so thirsty." "Turn on your side now and go to sleep," I said. "I cannot; I cannot. Are you there, mother? Mother, don't leave me. Mother, won't you give me the diamonds? I shall sleep sound, very sound, if I may wear them round my neck! Do, mother, dear, give me the Ponsonby diamonds--you don't know how I long for them." "My darling," said Lady Erstfield, falling suddenly on her knees by the bedside, and bursting into tears, "I would give them to you if I could; but they are lost, Violet, dear--the Ponsonby diamonds are lost." [Illustration: "THEY ARE LOST, VIOLET, DEAR."] "Oh! no, they aren't, mother," replied the girl, in a voice of astonishment; "they are in my jewel-case--in the lower drawer. The case which holds the diamonds just fits into the lower drawer of my jewel-case. You will find my keys on the dressing-table. Do, do fetch the diamonds, mother." Lady Erstfield sprang to her feet and looked with a kind of horrified consternation at her child. "No, my love," she said then, in a soothing voice, "you are dreaming--you are not well and have had a bad dream. Go to sleep, my sweet darling, go to sleep."