The doctor gave it a
learned name, signifying drink-madness, and said the case was hopeless.
However, he ordered the room to be cleared of the crowd to see what he
could do. My master was reported to be still with the doctor, waiting to
see whether the man lived or died, when I left the village, miss, with
the gentleman's answer to your note. I didn't dare stay to hear how it
ended, for fear of Mr. Turlington's finding me out."
Having reached the end of his narrative, the man looked round restlessly
toward the window. It was impossible to say when his master might not
return, and it might be as much as his life was worth to be caught in
the house after he had been locked out of it. He begged permission to
open the window, and make his escape back to the stables while there
was still time. As he unbarred the shutter they were startled by a voice
hailing them from below. It was Launce's voice calling to Natalie. The
servant disappeared, and Natalie was in Launce's arms before she could
breathe again.
For one delicious moment she let her head lie on his breast; then she
suddenly pushed him away from her.
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