“Death!” What an awfully solemn word it was! How it shook her nerves! She burst into hysterical sobs, and Doctor Burns hastily prepared a sedative, and forced her to swallow it. “You need it. It will give you sleep,” he said gently. After a painful struggle with her crowding emotions, she continued: “You have promised to be my friend, so tell me what to do. You understand, I mean to be free of this marriage, whether Mr. Sherwood lives or dies? Then what must I do? Leave the house to-day?” “Most certainly not! To do so would destroy his one chance of life,” he exclaimed, with the anxiety of a physician. “But, doctor, he need not know,” she cried piteously. “It would be impossible to keep him from it, since in his waking hours he calls often for you. It would be harsh and cruel to destroy his one chance to live by the shock of such a desertion,” Doctor Burns replied, telling her the truth without disguise, in his anxiety over his patient. He thought she was going to faint, she turned so white as she clasped her hands on her heart, where pity for Royall Sherwood struggled with passion for her absent lover. His dark, tender eyes, his noble face, rose before her mind’s eye, and she sobbed: “Oh, that I might see Dallas! He would tell me what to do.” “Shall I bring him here to see you?” he asked quickly. “Oh, if you only would!” “Then I will do so this morning, and if he is the noble man I take him for he will bid you stay and save his rival’s life, even though you desert him afterward--although, if my advice were asked, I should say make the best of a bargain, and keep the husband you have already won, since, after all, it’s not a bad match. Sherwood has loads of money, and isn’t at all a bad fellow.” “I know--I know; but Love goes where it is sent, and I could never care for him as he deserved. Oh, Doctor Burns, don’t you turn against me, too, for all are in league to break my heart!” wildly. “Poor girl--poor girl! Then I’ll take your part by going at once to bring Mr. Bain to consult with you. Where shall I find him?” “At the hotel, I suppose,” she returned, adding: “May God bless you for your kindness to a poor, friendless girl!” “Thank you. I have need of His blessing. And now go, like a good girl, and take a nap until I return with Dallas Bain.” She returned to her room to follow his advice, thinking that, indeed, she would like to look a little fresher when Dallas came. But in a few minutes Mrs. Fleming entered, saying: “Royall is awake and asking for you. Will you come?” Annette, who was dozing on the bed, looked up wearily, and exclaimed: “Be kind to him, Daisie, so that he may get well. I will help to nurse him; indeed, I will.” Daisie arose and followed Mrs. Fleming to the sick room. The nurse who was watching by the patient quickly left the room at a gesture from the mistress of the house.