Evening journal., 1900-12-12
The DanVerS Jewels
BY MARY cHOLMoNDELEY,
Author of "RED POTTAGE."

taken suddenly ana aldfmlnBly Ill Wnllo
dressing.
In a moment all was confusion. Eve
lyn precipitately left the room TO go to
him, while Charles rushed round TO the
stables to send a groom on horseback for
the nearest doctor. Ralph followed him.
and the remainder of the party gathered
in little knot round the FIRE, Mrs Mar
ston expressing the sentiment of each Of
US when she said that she thought visit
ors We're very much in the way when
there was illness in the house, and that
she regretted that she and her husband
had arranged to stay over Sunday, today
being Friday
80 have /. said Carr; "but / am
sure had better have refused A stran-
ger in a sick house is a positive nuisance.
l think / shall go TO town by an after
noon train if there is one"
Upon my word think we had better
do the same" d" said Mrs Marston. "What
do you say, Arthur And she turned
to her husband
81 must go TO day, anyhow-on bust
ness" said Gen. Marston.
IL hope no one is talking Of leaving"
said Charles, who had returned sudden
ly, rather ont Of breath.
As he spoke his eyes were fixed on
Carr.
"Yes, that is exactly what we were
doing" said Mrs. Marston Nothing
is so tiresome as having visitors on ones
hands when there is illness IN the house.
Mr.. Carr was thinking of going up to
London by the afternoon train, and
have very good mind to go away with
Arthur instead of staying on and letting
hnn come back here for me tomorrow,
as we had intended.
"Pray do not think Of such thingm
said Charles, really with unnecessary
eunestness. "Airs. Marston. pray do
not alter your plans. Carl" in a much
sterner tone, "i must beg that you win
not think of leaving MS today. Your
[. fried, Col. Middleton, is staying on, and
we cannot allow you to desert us so sud-
denly"
il was more like a command than an
invitations but Carr usually 80 quick to
take a slight, did not seem TO notice it,.
and merely said that he should be happy
/ TO 90 on stay, whichever was most in ac-
cordance with the wishes of others, and
took up the newspaper. He and Charles
did not seem TO get on WELL could see
that Charles had not seemed TO take
to him from the very first, and Carr GER
tainly did not appear at ease in the house
Perhaps Charles felt that he had rather
failed in courtesy to him, for during the
remainder of the morning he hardly lei
him out of his sight. He took him to
zee the stables, though Carr openly de.
clared that he did not understand horses;
he showed him his collection Of Zulu
weapons in the vestibule he even started
4 game of billiards with him till the ar-
ival Of the doctor. / DO not think Car
took his attentions in very good part,
though he was too wen hammered 10 show
it but he looked relieved when Charles
went upstairs with the doctor, aud
pitched his cue into the rack at once.
and came to the hall fire, where | was
sitting, and where Aurelia presently
joined us, fresh and smiling, in the pret-
tiest of morning gowns. Everyone met
in the hall 1t was in the center of the
house, and everyone coming up or down
had to pass through it. just now it was
not so tempting an abode as usual for
the flowers and part Of the stage had al
ready been removed, and the bare boards
with their wooden supports gave an ali
of discomfort to the whole place.
Aurelia opened wide eyes of horror al
hearing Sir George was i'll. She ever
got out tiny laced pocket handkerchief
but before she had had time to weeI
much into it and spoil her pretty eye
/ the doctor reappeared, accompanied by
J Charles and Ralph. and we all learned t,
! our great relief that Sir George, thougl
undoubtedly i'll, was not dangerously 81
at present, though the greatest car
, would be necessary. Lady Mary hat
, undertaken the nursing Of her brother
in-law, and in her the doctor expresse,
. the same confidence which parents ar
won't to feel in n stern schoolmaster. Il
r the meantime the patient was TO be KEEP
1 very quiet and ON no account to be dis
1 turbed
a When the doctor had left Ralph AM
l Aurelia, who had actually seen nothing
Y Of each other that morning, sauntere
r away together toward the library
: Charles challenged Carr TO finish hi
y game Of billiards; and Marston and
0 retired upstairs to the smoking room
= where we could talk over our India
r experiences and perhaps doze undi'
T turbed We might have been so occu
. pied for half an hour or more when
Il flying step came up the stairs, the doc
n was thrown open and Ralph rushe
:. into the room.
l. Gen. Marston Col. Middleton j
gasped out, breathing hard, will yo
,s both of you come TO my fathers room :
It once? He has sent for YOU
n Good gracious! Is he worse| / e.
q claimed.
No Hushl Don't ask anything, bl
y Just come, and he turned and led u
st way to Sir George Danvers' room.
We followed in wondering silence, Gr
IL after passing along numerous passag
" were usherel into n large oak panel'