[Illustration: "She Seemed Lost In Thought.">[
"You have been ill," said Zillah, suddenly, and with some alarm in her voice.
"Yes," said Lord Chetwynde, sadly; "I have been as near death as it is possible for one to be and live."
"In England?"
"No; in Switzerland."
"Switzerland?"
"Yes."
"I thought that perhaps some private troubles in England had caused it," said Zillah, with tones of deep sympathy, for she recollected his last words to her, which expressed such fearful anticipations of the future.
"No; I bore all that. It was an unexpected circumstance," he said, in a cautious tone, "that caused my illness. But the Italian air has been beneficial. But you--how have you been? I fear that you yourself have been ill."