CHAPTER IV.
COUNTING THE COST.
For four days and four nights there were fear and watching in Mr.
Sheldon's house; and in all that time the master never quitted it, except
stealthily, in the dead of the night, or at early daybreak, to roam in a
purposeless manner he knew not where. The doctors came and went--Dr.
Doddleson once a day, Dr. Jedd two or three times a day--and every one in
villas adjoining and villas opposite, and even in villas round the
corner, knew that the stockbroker's stepdaughter lay sick unto death; for
the white horses of Dr. Jedd's landau were as the pale horse of the Pale
Rider himself, and where they came was danger or death. Ah, thank God! to
some they have brought hope and blessing; not always the dread answer,
"You have called me in vain."
Valentine Hawkehurst came many times in the day, but between him and Mr.
Sheldon there could be no safe meeting; and the lover came quietly to the
little gate, where a kindly housemaid gave him a little note from Diana
Paget. Miss Paget wrote half a dozen little notes of this kind in the
course of every day, but she never left her post in the room opposite the
sick-chamber. She complained of headache, or of some vague illness which
prevented her taking her meals in the dining-room, and Mr. Sheldon was
fain to be satisfied with this explanation of her conduct.
She was on guard; and the wretched master of the house knew that she was
on guard, and that if Ann Woolper could be bought over, or frightened
into compliance with his wishes, this girl would still remain, faithful
as watchdog, by the door of her friend and companion.
Pages:
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461