the stairs. She leaned heavily on her son's arm and, on reaching her room, seemed completely exhausted. No stimulant had ever passed her lips, and now she sternly declined the glass of wine proffered by Mr. De Vere, saying she had not arrived at the age of eighty-seven to first taste the cup of poison.
"But, mother," her son protested, "you are breathless. Stimulants are all right in their place. I insist on your taking this."
"John!"
Mr. De Vere beat a hasty retreat and called Eletheer.
Of late Granny had been steadily but surely failing, her usually severe manner replaced by one peculiarly gentle, and Eletheer noticed with delight how softened in Granny's eyes had become her own many faults. To-night she looked seriously ill, and after the exertion of disrobing and preparing for the night was over, she fell back panting on her pillow.
Eletheer, really frightened, wanted to send for the doctor, but her grandmother stren-
