whispered；　trying　to　draw　her　toward　the　folding…doors　which　led
  into　the　next　room。　〃For　God's　sake；　be　quick！　He'll　kill　you！〃
  She　put　the　old　man　back　with　her　hand。　She　looked　at　him　with　a
  sudden　irradiation　of　her　blank　face。　She　answered　him　with　lips
  that　struggled　slowly　into　a　frightful　smile。
  〃_Let_　him　kill　me；〃　she　said。
  As　the　words　passed　her　lips；　he　sprang　forward　from　the　wall；
  with　a　cry　that　rang　through　the　house。　The　frenzy　of　a　maddened
  man　flashed　at　her　from　his　glassy　eyes；　and　clutched　at　her　in
  his　threatening　hands。　He　came　on　till　he　was　within　arms…length
  of　herand　suddenly　stood　still。　The　black　flush　died　out　of　his
  face　in　the　instant　when　he　stopped。　His　eyelids　fell；　his
  outstretched　hands　wavered　and　sank　helpless。　He　dropped；　as　the
  dead　drop。　He　lay　as　the　dead　lie；　in　the　arms　of　the　wife　who
  had　denied　him。
  She　knelt　on　the　floor；　and　rested　his　head　on　her　knee。　She
  caught　the　arm　of　the　steward　hurrying　to　help　her；　with　a　hand
  that　closed　round　it　like　a　vise。　〃Go　for　a　doctor；〃　she　said；
  〃and　keep　the　people　of　the　house　away　till　he　comes。〃　There　was
  that　in　her　eye；　there　was　that　in　her　voice；　which　would　have
  warned　any　man　living　to　obey　her　in　silence。　In　silence　Mr。
  Bashwood　submitted；　and　hurried　out　of　the　room。
  The　instant　she　was　alone　she　raised　him　from　her　knee。　With　both
  arms　clasped　round　him；　the　miserable　woman　lifted　his　lifeless
  face　to　hers　and　rocked　him　on　her　bosom　in　an　agony　of
  tenderness　beyond　all　relief　in　tears；　in　a　passion　of　remorse
  beyond　all　expression　in　words。　In　silence　she　held　him　to　her
  breast；　in　silence　she　devoured　his　forehead；　his　cheeks；　his
  lips；　with　kisses。　Not　a　sound　escaped　her　till　she　heard　the
  trampling　footsteps　outside；　hurrying　up　the　stairs。　Then　a　low
  moan　burst　from　her　lips；　as　she　looked　her　last　at　him；　and
  lowered　his　head　again　to　her　knee；　before　the　strangers　came　in。
  The　landlady　and　the　steward　were　the　first　persons　whom　she　saw
  when　the　door　was　opened。　The　medical　man　（a　surgeon　living　in
  the　street）　followed。　The　horror　and　the　beauty　of　her　face　as
  she　looked　up　at　him　absorbed　the　surgeon's　attention　for　the
  moment；　to　the　exclusion　of　everything　else。　Sh　e　had　to　beckon
  to　him；　she　had　to　point　to　the　senseless　man；　before　she　could
  claim　his　attention　for　his　patient　and　divert　it　from　herself。
  〃Is　he　dead？〃　she　asked。
  The　surgeon　carried　Midwinter　to　the　sofa；　and　ordered　the
  windows　to　be　opened。　〃It　is　a　fainting　fit；〃　he　said；　〃nothing
  more。〃
  At　that　answer　her　strength　failed　her　for　the　first　time。　She
  drew　a　deep　breath　of　relief；　and　leaned　on　the　chimney…piece　for
  support。　Mr。　Bashwood　was　the　only　person　present　who　noticed
  that　she　was　overcome。　He　led　her　to　the　opposite　end　of　the
  room；　where　there　was　an　easy…chair；　leaving　the　landlady　to　hand
  the　restoratives　to　the　surgeon　as　they　were　wanted。
  〃Are　you　going　to　wait　here　till　he　recovers？〃　whispered　the
  steward；　looking　toward　the　sofa；　and　trembling　as　he　looked。
  The　question　forced　her　to　a　sense　of　her　positionto　a
  knowledge　of　the　merciless　necessities　which　that　position　now
  forced　her　to　confront。　With　a　heavy　sigh　she　looked　toward　the
  sofa；　considered　with　herself　for　a　moment；　and　answered　Mr。
  Bashwood's　inquiry　by　a　question　on　her　side。
  〃Is　the　cab　that　brought　you　here　from　the　railway　still　at　the
  door？〃
  〃Yes。〃
  〃Drive　at　once　to　the　gates　of　the　Sanitarium；　and　wait　there
  till　I　join　you。〃
  Mr。　Bashwood　hesitated。　She　lifted　her　eyes　to　his；　and；　with　a
  look；　sent　him　out　of　the　room。
  〃The　gentleman　is　coming　to；　ma'am；〃　said　the　landlady；　as　the
  steward　closed　the　door。　〃He　has　just　breathed　again。〃
  She　bowed　in　mute　reply；　rose；　and　considered　with　herself　once
  morelooked　toward　the　sofa　for　the　second　timethen　passed
  through　the　folding…doors　into　her　own　room。
  After　a　short　lapse　of　time　the　surgeon　drew　back　from　the　sofa
  and　motioned　to　the　landlady　to　stand　aside。　The　bodily　recovery
  of　the　patient　was　assured。　There　was　nothing　to　be　done　now　but
  to　wait；　and　let　his　mind　slowly　recall　its　sense　of　what　had
  happened。
  〃Where　is　she？〃　were　the　first　words　he　said　to　the　surgeon；　and
  the　landlady　anxiously　watching　him。
  The　landlady　knocked　at　the　folding…doors；　and　received　no
  answer。　She　went　in；　and　found　the　room　empty。　A　sheet　of
  note…paper　was　on　the　dressing…table；　with　the　doctor's　fee
  placed　on　it。　The　paper　contained　these　lines；　evidently　written
  in　great　agitation　or　in　great　haste：　〃It　is　impossible　for　me　to
  remain　here　to…night；　after　what　has　happened。　I　will　return
  to…morrow　to　take　away　my　luggage；　and　to　pay　what　I　owe　you。〃
  〃Where　is　she？〃　Midwinter　asked　again；　when　the　landlady　returned
  alone　to　the　drawing…room。
  〃Gone；　sir。〃
  〃I　don't　believe　it！〃
  The　old　lady's　color　rose。　〃If　you　know　her　handwriting；　sir；〃
  she　answered；　handing　him　the　sheet　of　note…paper；　〃perhaps　you
  may　believe　_that？_〃
  He　looked　at　the　paper。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　ma'am；〃　he　said；　as
  he　handed　it　back〃I　beg　your　pardon；　with　all　my　heart。〃
  There　was　something　in　his　face　as　he　spoke　those　words　which
  more　than　soothed　the　old　lady's　irritation：　it　touched　her　with
  a　sudden　pity　for　the　man　who　had　offended　her。　〃I　am　afraid
  there　is　some　dreadful　trouble；　sir；　at　the　bottom　of　all　this；〃
  she　said；　simply。　〃Do　you　wish　me　to　give　any　message　to　the　lady
  when　she　comes　back？〃
  Midwinter　rose　and　steadied　himself　for　a　moment　against　the
  sofa。　〃I　will　bring　my　own　message　to…morrow；〃　he　said。　〃I　must
  see　her　before　she　leaves　your　house。〃
  The　surgeon　accompanied　his　patient　into　the　street。　〃Can　I　see
  you　home？〃　he　said；　kindly。　〃You　had　better　not　walk；　if　it　is
  far。　You　mustn't　overexert　yourself；　you　mustn't　catch　a　chill
  this　cold　night。〃
  Midwinter　took　his　hand　and　thanked　him。　〃I　have　been　used　to
  hard　walking　and　cold　nights；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　am　not　easily
  worn　out；　even　when　I　look　so　broken　as　I　do　now。　If　you　will
  tell　me　the　nearest　way　out　of　these　streets；　I　think　the　quiet
  of　the　country　and　the　quiet　of　the　night　will　help　me。　I　have
  something　serious　to　do　to…morrow；〃　he　added；　in　a　lower　tone；
  〃and　I　can't　rest　or　sleep　till　I　have　thought　over　it　to…night。〃
  The　surgeon　understood　that　he　had　no　common　man　to　deal　with。　He
  gave　the　necessary　directions　without　any　further　remark；　and
  parted　with　his　patient　at　his　own　door。
  Left　by　himself；　Midwinter　paused；　and　looked　up　at　the　heavens
  in　silence。　The　night　had　cleared；　and　the　stars　were　outthe
  stars　which　he　had　first　learned　to　know　from　his　gypsy　master　on
  the　hillside。　For　the　first　time　his　mind　went　back　regretfully
  to　his　boyish　days。　〃Oh；　for　the　old　life！〃　he　thought；
  longingly。　〃I　never　knew　till　now　how　happy　the　old　life　was！〃
  He　roused　himself；　and　went　on　toward　the　open　country。　His　face
  darkened　as　he　left　the　streets　behind　him　and　advanced　into　the
  solitude　and　obscurity　that　lay　beyond。
  〃She　has　denied　her　husband　to…night；〃　he　said。　〃She　shall　know
  her　master　to…morrow。〃
  CHAPTER　III。
  THE　PURPLE　FLASK。
  THE　cab　was　waiting　at　the　gates　as　Miss　Gwilt　approached　the
  Sanitarium。　Mr。　Bashwood　got　out　and　advanced　to　meet　her。　She
  took　his　arm　and　led　him　aside　a　few　steps；　out　of　the　cabman's
  hearing。
  〃Think　what　you　like　of　me；〃　she　said；　keeping　her　thick　black
  veil　down　over　her　face；　〃but　don't　speak　to　me　to…night。　Drive
  back　to　your　hotel　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　Meet　the　tidal
  train　to…morrow　as　usual；　and　come　to　me　afterward　at　the
  Sanitarium。　Go　without　a　word；　and　I　shall　believe　there　is　one
  man　in　the　world　who　really　loves　me。　Stay　and　ask　questions；　and
  I　shall　bid　you　good…by　at　once　and　forever！〃
  She　pointed　to　the　cab。　In　a　minute　more　it　had　left　the
  Sanitarium　and　was　taking　Mr。　Bashwood　back　to　his　hotel。
  She　opened　the　iron　gate　and　walked　slowly　up　to　the　house　door。
  A　shudder　ran　through　her　as　she　rang　the　bell。　She　laughed
  bitterly。　〃Shivering　again！〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃Who　would　have
  thought　I　had　so　much　feeling　left　in　me？〃
  For　once　in　her　life　the　doctor's　face　told　the　truth；　when　the
  study　door　opened　between　ten　and　eleven　at　night；　and　Miss　Gwilt
  entered　the　room。
  〃Mercy　on　me！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　a　look　of　the　blankest
  bewilderment。　〃What　does　this　mean？〃
  〃It　means；〃　she　answered；　〃that　I　have　decided　to…night　instead
  of　deciding　to…morrow。　You；　who　know　women　so　well；　ought　to　know
  that　they　act　on　impulse。　I　am　here　on　an　impulse。　Take　me　or
  leave　me；　just　as　you　like。〃
  〃Take　you　or　leave　you？〃　repeated　the　doctor；　recovering　his
  presence　of　mind。　〃My　dear　lady；　what　a　dreadful　way　of　putting
  it！　Your　room　shall　be　got　ready　instantly！　Where　is　your
  luggage？　Will　you　let　me　send　for　it？　No？　You　can　do　without　your
  luggage　tonight？　What　admirable　fortitude！　You　will　fetch　it
  yourself　to…morrow？　What　extraordinary　independence！　Do　take　off
  your　bonnet。　Do　draw　in　to　the　fire！　What　can　I　offer　you？〃
  〃Offer　me　the　strongest　sleeping　draught　you　ever　made　in　your
  life；〃　she　replied。　〃And　leave　me　alone　till　the　time　comes　to
  take　it。　I　shall　be　your　patient　in　earnest！〃　sh