“No!” Claire grasped his arm. “I can’t do that either. Oh, Doctor Varian, stay here with me! Think,—these are not my people,—I’m sympathetic, of course, but, I’m terrified,—I’m afraid——” “There’s nothing to fear.” “I can’t help that,—I won’t stay here alone. If you leave me, I shall run down the path to meet them.” “Then I’ll have to stay here. Very well, Mrs Blackwood, they’ll arrive in a few moments,—we’ll wait for them together.” And then Varian again fell to ruminating, and Claire Blackwood, sick with her own thoughts, said no word. At last they heard footsteps, and looked out to see the little procession headed by the two sisters-in-law. Janet Varian was half supporting Minna, but her help was not greatly needed, for the very violence of Minna’s grief and fright gave her a sort of supernormal strength and she walked uprightly and swiftly. “Where’s Frederick?” she demanded, in a shrill voice as she came up the steps,—“and where’s Betty? Where’s my child?” Her voice rose to a shriek on the last words, and Doctor Varian took her by the arm, giving her his undivided attention. “Be careful now, Minna,” he said, kindly but decidedly; “don’t lose your grip. You’ve a big trouble to face,—and do try, dear, to meet it bravely.” “I’m brave enough, Herbert, don’t worry about that. Where’s Fred, I say?” “Here,” was the brief reply, and Varian led her to her husband’s body. As he had fully expected, she went into violent hysterics. She cried, she screamed, then her voice subsided to a sort of low, dismal wailing, only to break out afresh with renewed shrieks. “Perhaps it’s better that she should do this, than to control herself,” the Doctor said; “she’ll soon exhaust herself at this rate, and may in that way become more tractable. I wish we could get her to bed.” “We can,” responded his wife, promptly. “I’ll look after that. Give a look at Eleanor, Herbert.” The harassed doctor turned his attention to his daughter, who was controlling herself, but who was trembling piteously. “Good girl,” said her father, taking her in his arms. “Buck up, Nell, dear. Dad’s got a whole lot on his shoulders, and my, how it will help if you don’t keel over!” “I won’t,” and Eleanor tried to smile. Claire Blackwood approached the pair. “Doctor Varian,” she said, “suppose I take your daughter home with me for the night,—or longer, if she’ll stay. It might relieve you and your wife of a little care, and I’ll be good to her, I promise you. And, if I may, I’d like to go now. I can’t be of any service here, can I? And as Miss Eleanor can’t either, what do you think of our going now?” “A very good idea, Mrs Blackwood,” and the doctor’s face showed grateful appreciation. “Take one of the young men with you, and leave the other here to help me.” “We’ll take John Clark,” Claire decided, “and Ted Landon will, I know, be glad to stand by you.”