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326 my knees before God. My pride through life, my comfort when I die, will be to think that I won the heart of so noble a man as your brother. And yet, unless he speaks now, I know that I shall never be his wife."

She flung herself down beside the bed, and buried her head in her hands. Her self-control, for once, had given way. Hatty, startled, with all her thonghts in confusion at what she had just heard, could only lie back on her pillow, panting for breath.

After a few minntes she gasped faintly, "You are right. Poor Ally! Unless he speaks now. I am going from him—going"

Elizabeth started to her feet. Something in the voice struck her painfully. She brushed the hot tears away, and, looking into Hatty's face, saw that a grey colour had overspread it. The eyes alone retained any vitality. She poured down the dying woman's throat some drops which the doctor had said were to be given in emergency; then went swiftly out, and knocked at Alaric's door.

He sprang from the bed on which he had thrown himself dressed, and opened the door.

"She is worse! Will you come to her?"

"Have you sent for the doctor?" he asked quickly, as he shut the door behind him.

She shook her head. "It is past that—but I will send for him. The end is very near. Go in alone. She may like to see you alone. I will follow presently."

She ran down three flights of stairs, and woke the porter asleep on the bench. After she had sent off a messenger, she mounted the stairs again, slowly, and lingered in the passage, uncertain whether she ought to