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sition at the table placed me between a window that was open and a door that was hardly ever shut。 I went to bed shivering； and woke the next morning with a headache and a difficulty in breathing。 On consulting the doctor； I found that I was suffering from an attack of bronchitis。 There was no reason to be alarmed。 If I remained indoors； and submitted to the necessary treatment； I might hope to keep my engagement with my uncle in ten days or a fortnight。
There was no alternative but to submit。 I accordingly arranged with Rothsay that he should present himself at Lord Lepel's house （taking the picture with him）； on the date appointed for our visit； and that I should follow as soon as I was well enough to travel。
On the day when he was to leave London； my friend kindly came to keep me company for a while。 He was followed into my room by Mrs。 Mozeen； with a bottle of medicine in her hand。 This worthy creature； finding that the doctor's directions occasionally escaped my memory； devoted herself to the duty of administering the remedies at the prescribed intervals of time。 When she left the room； having performed her duties as usual； I saw Rothsay's eyes follow her to the door with an expression of sardonic curiosity。 He put a strange question to me as soon as we were alone。
〃Who engaged that new servant of yours？〃 he asked。 〃I mean the fat fellow； with the curly flaxen hair。〃
〃Hiring servants；〃 I replied； 〃is not much in my way。 I left the engagement of the new man to Mrs。 Mozeen。〃
Rothsay walked gravely up to my bedside。
〃Lepel；〃 he said； 〃your respectable housekeeper is in love with the fat young footman。〃
It is not easy to amuse a man suffering from bronchitis。 But this new outbreak of absurdity was more than I could resist； even with a mustard…plaster on my chest。
〃I thought I should raise your spirits；〃 Rothsay proceeded。 〃When I came to your house this morning； the valet opened the door to me。 I expressed my surprise at his condescending to take that trouble。 He informed me that Joseph was otherwise engaged。 'With anybody in particular？' I asked； humoring the joke。 'Yes； sir； with the housekeeper。 She's teaching him how to brush his hair； so as to show off his good looks to the best advantage。' Make up your mind； my friend； to lose Mrs。 Mozeenespecially if she happens to have any money。〃
〃Nonsense； Rothsay！ The poor woman is old enough to be Joseph's mother。〃
〃My good fellow； that won't make any difference to Joseph。 In the days when we were rich enough to keep a man…servant； our footmanas handsome a fellow as ever you saw； and no older than I ammarried a witch with a lame leg。 When I asked him why he had made such a fool of himself he looked quite indignant； and said： 'Sir！ she has got six hundred pounds。' He and the witch keep a public house。 What will you bet me that we don't see your housekeeper drawing beer at the bar； and Joseph getting drunk in the parlor； before we are a year older？〃
I was not well enough to prolong my enjoyment of Rothsay's boyish humor。 Besides； exaggeration to be really amusing must have some relation； no matter how slender it may be； to the truth。 My housekeeper belonged to a respectable family； and was essentially a person accust omed to respect herself。 Her brother occupied a position of responsibility in the establishment of a firm of chemists whom I had employed for years past。 Her late husband had farmed his own land； and had owed his ruin to calamities for which he was in no way responsible。 Kind…hearted Mrs。 Mozeen was just the woman to take a motherly interest in a well…disposed lad like Joseph； and it was equally characteristic of my valetespecially when Rothsay was thoughtless enough to encourage himto pervert an innocent action for the sake of indulging in a stupid jest。 I took advantage of my privilege as an invalid； and changed the subject。
A week passed。 I had expected to hear from Rothsay。 To my surprise and disappointment no letter arrived。
Susan was more considerate。 She wrote； very modestly and prettily； to say that she and her mother had heard of my illness from Mr。 Rothsay； and to express the hope that I should soon be restored to health。 A few days later； Mrs。 Rymer's politeness carried her to the length of taking the journey to London to make inquiries at my door。 I did not see her； of course。 She left word that she would have the honor of calling again。
The second week followed。 I had by that time perfectly recovered from my attack of bronchitisand yet I was too ill to leave the house。
The doctor himself seemed to be at a loss to understand the symptoms that now presented themselves。 A vile sensation of nausea tried my endurance； and an incomprehensible prostration of strength depressed my spirits。 I felt such a strange reluctance to exert myself that I actually left it to Mrs。 Mozeen to write to my uncle in my name； and say that I was not yet well enough to visit him。 My medical adviser tried various methods of treatment； my housekeeper administered the prescribed medicines with unremitting care； but nothing came of it。 A physician of great authority was called into consultation。 Being completely puzzled； he retreated to the last refuge of bewildered doctors。 I asked him what was the matter with me。 And he answered： 〃Suppressed gout。〃
FIFTH EPOCH。
MIDWAY in the third week； my uncle wrote to me as follows：
〃I have been obliged to request your friend Rothsay to bring his visit to a conclusion。 Although he refuses to confess it； I have reason to believe that he has committed the folly of falling seriously in love with the young girl at my lodge gate。 I have tried remonstrance in vain； and I write to his father at the same time that I write to you。 There is much more that I might say。 I reserve it for the time when I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you； restored to health。〃
Two days after the receipt of this alarming letter Rothsay returned to me。
Ill as I was； I forgot my sufferings the moment I looked at him。 Wild and haggard； he stared at me with bloodshot eyes like a man demented。
〃Do you think I am mad？ I dare say I am。 I can't live without her。〃 Those were the first words he said when we shook hands。
But I had more influence over him than any other person； and； weak as I was； I exerted it。 Little by little； he became more reasonable； he began to speak like his old self again。
To have expressed any surprise； on my part； at what had happened； would have been not only imprudent； but unworthy of him and of me。 My first inquiry was suggested by the fear that he might have been hurried into openly confessing his passion to Susanalthough his position forbade him to offer marriage。 I had done him an injustice。 His honorable nature had shrunk from the cruelty of raising hopes； which； for all he knew to the contrary； might never be realized。 At the same time； he had his reasons for believing that he was at least personally acceptable to her。
〃She was always glad to see me；〃 said poor Rothsay。 〃We constantly talked of you。 She spoke of your kindness so prettily and so gratefully。 Oh； Lepel； it is not her beauty only that has won my heart！ Her nature is the nature of an angel。〃
His voice failed him。 For