CHAPTER XI.
AT NATURE'S BIDDING The sick girl whom Miss Barfoot had been to see was Monica Madden.
With strange suddenness, after several weeks of steady application to her work, in a cheerful spirit which at times rose to gaiety, Monica became dull, remiss, unhappy; then violent headaches attacked her, and one morning she declared herself unable to rise.

Mildred Vesper went to Great Portland Street at the usual hour, and informed Miss Barfoot of her companion's illness.

A doctor was summoned; to him it seemed probable that the girl was suffering from consequences of overstrain at her old employment; there was nervous collapse, hysteria, general disorder of the system.

Had the patient any mental disquietude?
Was trouble of any kind (the doctor smiled) weighing upon her?
Miss Barfoot, unable to answer these questions, held private colloquy with Mildred; but the latter, though she pondered a good deal with corrugated brows, could furnish no information.
In a day or two Monica was removed to her sister's lodgings at Lavender Hill.

Mrs.Conisbee managed to put a room at her disposal, and Virginia tended her.