This condition being acceded to on the part of Colonel Ashton and his father, the rest of the bridegroom's friends left the castle, notwithstanding the hour and the darkness of the night.

The cares of the medical man were next employed in behalf of Miss Ashton, whom he pronounced to be in a very dangerous state.

Farther medical assistance was immediately summoned.

All night she remained delirious.
On the morning, she fell into a state of absolute insensibility.

The next evening, the physicians said, would be the crisis of her malady.