"Oh, my dear, how ill and pale you look! What has happened to you?" she demanded anxiously. "Oh, Norah, they are saying that Ethel is very ill!" faltered Precious, and when she reached her own room she sank tremblingly upon a sofa. "Miss Ethel has an attack of hysteria," explained Norah. "She had a long swoon, and when she revived went into wild hysterics. The doctor and your mother are with her now, and when I came out awhile ago she was shrieking for you as though she thought you were in the greatest danger somewhere. I think if you will go in and see her that the sight of you will do her good." "I will go at once!" cried Precious eagerly, and glided pale as death into the sick-room, her heart beating with great strangling throbs of emotion. She crossed the floor to the bed, and saw Ethel writhing among the pillows like one distraught, her dark eyes glaring wildly on the anxious faces around her, while from her ashen lips came over and over one yearning cry: "Precious! Oh, bring Precious home!" When Precious heard that entreating cry she felt that Ethel had repented of her sin, that she was not as wicked as she had tried to be. The knowledge brought keenest joy to her heart. "Oh, Ethel, dear sister, I am here!" she cried in a voice of heavenly forgiveness. Until that moment Ethel had seemed not to recognize any one, had called no one but her sister, but as that sweet voice came to her ears she looked up with a wild cry and clasped Precious in her arms. "Oh, my darling, you are safe! You have come back to me!" she cried, and fainted for the third time that morning. "She has had some strange hallucination about her sister, but she will be better now," said the physician, and he was right, for when she recovered she was calmer, the light of reason shone in her dark eyes. "I am better now. You may all go away but Precious. I want her to stay by me a little while," she murmured faintly. They all withdrew but Precious, to whom she clung with eager hands. When they were alone they looked eagerly into each other's eyes, and Ethel saw that Precious knew all. A deep and heavy sigh breathed over her lips, and she murmured: "You have escaped your enemies, thank Heaven! Nothing else matters now, but tell me how it all happened." And the trembling Precious, in low, agitated whispers, told her all that had transpired except Hetty's death, of which she did not yet know. Ethel listened in silent joy. She rejoiced in the death of her enemies, and she realized that her guilty secret belonged to no one now but Precious. In those small, white hands rested her fate. Her dark, anguished eyes searched the pale, lovely face with eager inquiry, and she faltered: "You know all my sins against you now, Precious--all my envious hate and jealousy. Are you glad that revenge lies in your hands?" "Revenge!" exclaimed Precious, and Ethel answered: "You will betray me now to Arthur, to papa and mamma, to the whole world!"