The earl came quickly down the corridor.
"What is the matter, Mattie?" he asked, in a loud, cheery voice. "Eugenie is telling me some wonderful story about not being able to wake my daughter. What does it mean? Doris ought to be dressed and ready."
He started when his eyes fell on Mattie's bewildered face.
"You do not mean to say that there is anything wrong?" he cried.
"I hope not, Lord Linleigh, but we have been here nearly half an hour, doing all that is possible to wake Doris, and we cannot even make her hear."
He looked wonderfully relieved.
"Is that all? I will soon wake her."
He applied himself vigorously to the task with so much zeal that Mattie was half deafened.
"That will do," he said, laughingly. "Doris, you heard that, I am sure."
There was no reply. Mattie laid her hand on his arm.