"The woman tottered toward the door, but she had taken only a few steps when she reeled, gasping, with her hands tearing at her breast, and would have fallen if I had not rushed out and caught her. I managed to get her to the couch in the library and brought her the water she begged for, but I knew the meaning of her terrible thirst. I had had pneumonia myself and no matter what misfortune her visit had brought to father, I could not help being sorry for her.
"She was a tall, dark, willowly creature and must have been very handsome in her youth. Her eyes were bright with fever and the hectic patches on her thin cheeks heightened their glitter, but she had a hardened expression which made the general effect she produced coarse and repellent.
"She seemed half delirious and kept moaning that she must go, but it would have been death to her to face the storm, even if she had not been too weak to rise from the couch. I told her that she would have to remain and let me send for a doctor, and at length she realized herself the futility of further effort.
"'Who are you?' she gasped, clinging to my hand. I told her and she stared long at me before she spoke again.
"'I have a letter here, a message from your father which must be delivered tonight, or the consequences for him will be disastrous. I cannot go; I feel as if I were dying! Will you take my place? Your father must not know, he would sacrifice himself and his own vital interests rather than have you brave the storm. My car is waiting. Can you do this? Remember, it means much to him!'
"Her eyes were burning into mine and something in her deadly earnestness decided me. I nodded and she fell back in relief. When she had gathered her remaining strength together, she went on:
"'You have only to permit my chauffeur to take you to a certain house and deliver this letter to the man servant who opens the door. The chauffeur will explain what is necessary to him, and then bring you home immediately. I will accept your hospitality for tonight because I must, but I shall be able to go in the morning. No doctor is necessary and I forbid you to send for one. I will not see him! You must lose no time, but go at once. Call my chauffeur in and I will give him his instructions.'
"I aroused the housemaid to prepare a bed and get the stranger into it without disturbing father, and then I started on my journey. I shall never forget that ride! For hours we plowed through drifts and over hummocks, the car swaying and rocking like a ship and the intense cold penetrating my very bones.
"The miles seemed endless and I was so numb and dazed that I scarcely realized when we entered the city, the string of lights were a meaningless blur.
"We drew up at last before a big house and I managed to descend, although my limbs were half frozen. The door opened before I could ring, and the man servant stared at me as if he saw a ghost, but the chauffeur called sharply to him and he ran down bareheaded in the snow and talked to him. Then he returned and conducted me into the hall where a great hearth fire was burning, and I gave him the square, blank, sealed envelope which the woman had handed to me. He took it and ascended the stairs, to return presently with a goblet of mulled wine. His manner was respectful enough, but I thought the way he stared at me was very strange and he was evidently relieved when he conducted me outside and saw me once more safely in the car.