Ellen helped the shivering figure into a street dress. The medicine began to have its effect; Hilda grew drowsy and lost control of her tongue. When Mayne returned she pointed to Ellen.
"What is it, Hilda? Are you afraid of her?"
Hilda shook her head.
"Do you wish her to accompany you?" Even in moments like this Mayne chose his words.
Hilda nodded and Mayne went to speak to Stephen. When he returned they helped Hilda down the stairs. She became more drowsy and had difficulty in finding the step of the throbbing motor. She laid her head on Ellen's shoulder and Ellen steadied her with her arm. The car gave a premonitory whirr, then it seemed to spring ahead. It did not move as though guided by the expert hand of Fickes and Ellen realized that Stephen was at the wheel and that Dr. Good sat beside him.
Once in the long journey Mayne asked a question.
"Isn't Mrs. Lanfair heavy against your shoulder?"
"No," answered Ellen.
Mayne's voice was thick and Ellen herself had shed tears.
At eleven o'clock the car stopped beneath a porte-cochère and a nurse and two orderlies came down the steps. They received poor Hilda tenderly and with businesslike hopefulness. The three men followed the little procession into the lighted doorway.