It was between three and four in the afternoon when she was roused by one of the female servants.

The woman had a note in her hand--a note left by Mr.Clare the younger, with a message desiring that it might be delivered to Miss Garth immediately.

The name written in the lower corner of the envelope was "William Pendril." The lawyer had arrived.
Miss Garth opened the note.

After a few first sentences of sympathy and condolence, the writer announced his arrival at Mr.Clare's; and then proceeded, apparently in his professional capacity, to make a very startling request.
"If," he wrote, "any change for the better in Mrs.Vanstone should take place--whether it is only an improvement for the time, or whether it is the permanent improvement for which we all hope--in either case I entreat you to let me know of it immediately.

It is of the last importance that I should see her, in the event of her gaining strength enough to give me her attention for five minutes, and of her being able at the expiration of that time to sign her name.