“What is the matter with me, I wonder?” she thought.  “Surely I am not so foolish as to be disturbed by his looks, after what he has just told us!  Surely I am not so weak and foolish as that!”

Although the day had been a pleasant one to Mr. Sherwood, it had also been a trying one, and he began to feel the effects of it.  He was getting uneasy and restless, and Dexie soon observed it.

“You are tired, papa.  Shall I wheel you to your room?”

“Yes, I think you had better, and call Jarvis at once,” and he leaned back white and weak against his pillows.

Guy was on his feet in a moment, and rolled the chair into the next room with a steady, firm hand; while Dexie hurried past him to summon Jarvis, and to get the hot applications which were always kept in readiness for these sudden attacks.

“I fear you are worse than usual to-night.  Has my extra visit to-day been more than you were able to bear?” Guy asked, as, with the gentleness of a woman, he lifted him across into his bed.

“No, it is not that; I have been up too long, I guess, and my strength is daily growing less.  I ought not to be moved out of bed, perhaps, but it is torment enough to be bolstered up in a chair without staying in bed all day,” he added savagely, as the pain began to grow fierce.  “Oh! this is awful!”

Guy seemed helpless as he stood on one side to let Jarvis approach the bed.

Dexie came in at that moment with several hot cushions, and with their help they soon had the sufferer more at ease; but for the few minutes the sight of his agony was terrible to witness.

“Don’t go, Traverse; sit down for awhile; I shall soon be better,” he said, as soon as he could speak.  “There is more medicine in those hot bags than in all the doctor’s bottles—­they ease the pain faster than anything else,” he presently added.

“How is the pain now, papa?” and Dexie bent over him with anxious face.

“Better, dear; much better, but it was fearful cutting for awhile.  Did I frighten you, dear?  You must not mind it so.  Jarvis might see to me alone, if you would let her.”

“Oh!  I must help you if I can.  I could not bear it if I could not do something to relieve you, dear papa,” she whispered, as she bathed his flushed face.

Presently Mrs. Sherwood came in to see if her husband was better, and to ask if there could be anything further done for his relief.

“Nothing more, my dear; do not worry about me.  You had better go and rest.  Dexie will bring me something hot to drink presently, and that is all I shall want.”

“Then I will leave you now with Jarvis, and see about it, papa,” and Dexie left the room without saying a word to Mr. Traverse, who had taken a chair and seated himself at the other side of the bed.  She was too much taken up with her father’s sufferings to remember that her own heart had cause for grief.

She was some time away from the room, and naturally expected that Mr. Traverse had left the house, as Mrs. Jarvis said nothing about his still being in the room when she came out to speak to her.