Emily recovered her presence of mind. She opened the door, so asto make a draught of air in the room, and called for water.Returning to Mirabel, she loosened his cravat. Mrs. Ellmothercame in, just in time to prevent her from committing a commonerror in the treatment of fainting persons, by raising Mirabel'shead. The current of air, and the sprinkling of water over hisface, soon produced their customary effect. "He'll come round,directly," Mrs. Ellmother remarked. "Your aunt was sometimestaken with these swoons, miss; and I know something about them.He looks a poor weak creature, in spite of his big beard. Hasanything frightened him?"

Emily little knew how correctly that chance guess had hit on thetruth!

"Nothing can possibly have frightened him," she replied; "I amafraid he is in bad health. He turned suddenly pale while we weretalking; and I thought he was going to be taken ill; he madelight of it, and seemed to recover. Unfortunately, I was right;it was the threatening of a fainting fit--he dropped on the floora minute afterward."

A sigh fluttered over Mirabel's lips. His eyes opened, looked atMrs. Ellmother in vacant terror, and closed again. Emilywhispered to her to leave the room. The old woman smiledsatirically as she opened the door--then looked back, with asudden change of humor. To see the kind young mistress bendingover the feeble little clergyman set her--by some strangeassociation of ideas--thinking of Alban Morris. "Ah," shemuttered to herself, on her way out, "I call _him_ a Man!"

There was wine in the sideboard--the wine which Emily had oncealready offered in vain. Mirabel drank it eagerly, this time. Helooked round the room, as if he wished to be sure that they werealone. "Have I fallen to a low place in your estimation?" heasked, smiling faintly. "I am afraid you will think poorly enoughof your new ally, after this?"

"I only think you should take more care of your health," Emilyreplied, with sincere interest in his recovery. "Let me leave youto rest on the sofa."

He refused to remain at the cottage--he asked, with a suddenchange to fretfulness, if she would let her servant get him acab. She ventured to doubt whether he was quite strong enough yetto go away by himself. He reiterated, piteously reiterated, hisrequest. A passing cab was stopped directly. Emily accompaniedhim to the gate. "I know what to do," he said, in a hurriedabsent way. "Rest and a little tonic medicine will soon set meright." The clammy coldness of his skin made Emily shudder, asthey shook hands. "You won't think the worse of me for this?" heasked.

"How can you imagine such a thing!" she answered warmly.

"Will you see me, if I come to-morrow?"

"I shall be anxious to see you."

So they parted. Emily returned to the house, pitying him with allher heart.