"Just thinking--that's all," sighed Mrs. Blaine.

Virginia, not to be put off so easily, was about to insist on an
answer less vague, when suddenly the bedroom door opened and Dr.
Everett appeared. He advanced quickly into the room, his coat rumpled,
his manner strangely agitated. It was so unusual to see the physician
otherwise than calm and dignified that it seemed incredible that
anything, no matter how important, could ruffle him. Mrs. Blaine's
instinct told her the reason. Startled, she sprang to her feet.

"My God!" she exclaimed. "He's not--"

The doctor shook his head.

"No; a weak spell--that's all. You'd better come in. The children can
remain here."

The next instant the two sisters were alone.

For a few moments the girls, their arms clasped round each other's
waists, stood still, as if spellbound, staring at the door which
mercifully veiled from their view the tragedy of life then being
enacted in the adjoining room. Terror-stricken, too frightened even to
cry, they sat down and waited, straining their ears to hear what was
going on. Why had Doctor Everett summoned their mother? If Dad was
worse, if the crisis had come, why were they, too, not permitted to
see him? Instinctively they felt that their fears were only too well
founded. They shuddered, and it seemed to them that they felt a chill
in the air as if the Angel of Death had already entered the apartment