"Yes, they expect him immediately. Oh, Kit, are you not glad you told him? It was the only way. Now you have done all you can. It would be worse to bear if you had not told him. Oh, I wish--I wish I could take the pain instead of you! Hold my hand. Grip it with all your force; it will make the pain seem easier. And oh, Kit, pray to God without ceasing."
"I can't--I can't," moaned Kit; "I never pray. I have not prayed for years."
"Pray now, then. If you have turned your back on Him, He has never turned His back on you. The Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief, born of a woman! Only be willing to let Him help you--that is sufficient. Think of the graciousness of that! And this is the very week of His Passion."
"I can't pray," moaned Kit again; "but pray for me."
The grip of Kit's hand tightened in Lily's, and she could feel the stones in her rings biting into her flesh. Yet she hardly felt it; she was only aware of it. And her whole soul went up in supplication.
"O most pitiful, have pity," she said. "Help Kit in the hour of her need; deliver her body from pain and death, and her soul, above all, from sin. Give her amendment of life, and time to amend, and the will to amend. Make her sorry. Oh, Almighty One, stand near one of Thy children in her pain and need. Help her--help her!"
The door of the room opened quietly, and Dr. Ferguson entered. He held in his hand a little bag. He went to the window and drew up the blinds, letting in a splash of primrose-coloured sunshine; then shook hands with Lily, who rose at his entrance, in silence.
"You had better leave us, Lady Evelyn," he said. "Please send the nurse up as soon as she comes."
Lily turned to the bedside once more before leaving the room, and Kit smiled in answer to her. Her face was terribly drawn and white, and the dew of pain stood on her forehead. Lily bent and kissed her, and left the room.
She rejoined Toby and Jack in the smoking-room. Jack got up when she entered with eyes of questioning.
"The doctor is with her," said Lily. "He will be sure to tell us as soon as he can."
"I don't know. She is in dreadful pain. How on earth did she manage to fall so badly down these steps?"
"Yes; she said it was entirely her own fault."