"Your mother isn't very well, dear." The little word slipped out
unconsciously. "There is a doctor with her now. . . . No, don't be
worried. I dare say it's nothing. I'll come up with you and see."

Christine fled up the staircase. She was already in her mother's room
when Jimmy overtook her. Through the half-closed door he could see the
doctor and a woman in nurse's dress. His heart began to race.
Supposing Mrs. Wyatt were really ill; supposing---- The doctor came
out to him as he stood on the landing.

"Are you--are you a relative of Mrs. Wyatt's?" he asked.

Jimmy hesitated.

"I--I am engaged to Miss Wyatt," he said. "I hope--I hope there is
nothing serious the matter?"

The doctor glanced back over his shoulder. Jimmy's eyes instinctively
turned in the same direction; he could see Christine on her knees
beside the bed in the darkened room.

"Mrs. Wyatt is dying, I regret to say," the doctor said; he spoke in a
low voice, so that his words should not reach Christine. "It's only a
question of hours at most. I've done all I can, but nothing can save
her. It's heart trouble, you know; she must have been suffering with
it for years."

Jimmy Challoner stood staring at him, white-faced--stunned.