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284 must be heart trouble, as a few moments before he had been perfectly well, and there was nothing else I could think of to affect him in that manner. We returned to the hotel, and I insisted upon sending for a doctor. Arthur rebelled, but I would not give way. The Doctor declared that there was nothing at all the matter with Arthur's heart. It was sound. He thought his system was out of order generally, and wrote out a prescription. In fact he did what most doctors do, in the usual pompous, would-be impressive way.

"I am going to send down word to Mrs. Donaldson," I said, half an hour later, "that we cannot accompany her to the Opera to-night. I can't say I'm particularly sorry," I added, carelessly.

Arthur started up quickly from the sofa upon which he had been reclining. "You must go," he declared, "there is no reason why you should not do so. Do not offend these people, Elsie. We have found them very pleasant acquaintances, and I believe they are only going to accommodate us."