"Oh Lawrence!" Beatrice almost screamed in her agony "just one word before you go!"
"Not one," replied Lawrence, and with these words upon his lips he left the unhappy Beatrice in a swoon upon his floor.
Beatrice had given one hoarse scream as she fell to the floor, and it brought a couple of waiters to the room.
"What is it?" asked one.
"A young lady has fainted" said the other "run for the doctor quick."
The next instant there was a regular crowd round Beatrice all intensely interested, and in less time than it takes to tell old Doctor Holden was bending over Beatrice's white rigid face.
"She has had some shock I fear" said he feeling the thin white hand "can anyone in the crowd tell me where this lady lives?"
There was no sound of a reply for the first few seconds and then came a faint "yes" from the back of the throng.
"Come forward" cried the doctor. A rustling and a murmering of voices ensued and then the figure of a young girl rushed forward. It was Margaret Vindsor who had come out in search of Clara and fearing her to be lost had set out to find her.
"Now" said Dr. Holden giving Margaret a chair, "are you any relation to this young lady, and where does she live?"