Jacqueline tore herself away from him with a frightened cry and tried to rise.
"Raymond!" she gasped. "Has any one told him? Does he know?"
"No! No! He doesn't know anything yet!" Noel assured her hastily. But the dread of meeting her son and having him know her was too strong. She still struggled to rise, but was too weak.
"Is he here?" she panted. "He mustn't see me! Oh, let me go away! Let me go away!"
She got half-way out of her chair, but fell back exhausted. Dr. Chennel stepped forward and laid a hand on her arm.
"You will be able to go presently, madame," he said, quietly. "Your strength will come back to you shortly."
"You are a doctor, aren't you?" she panted.
"Yes," he replied, with a nod. "Don't excite yourself and I'll cure you in a few minutes, for can have perfect confidence in me. I am a friend of your son--a friend of Raymond!"
"Yes, I know everything," he interrupted, gravely.
"But he will never know, doctor, will he?" she asked, feverishly, gripping his hand.
"No, he shall know nothing at all," he assured.
"I promise!" he repeated. She released his hand and sank back with a piteous sob.
"I have nothing left--to me now--but my memories of him," she wept, "and his thoughts of what he believes me to have been. I want him to love me always! Always!--Ah--h--h!"
She closed her eyes and hid her face as the door opened; but it was only Rose with the medicine, on a little tray with a tumbler of water and a teaspoon.
"Quick, Rose, here!" ordered the doctor, sharply. He quickly mixed some of the stimulant with the water and held the tumbler to her lips. She drank a little and presently revived.
"Doctor," she said, faintly. "I believe I'm going to die!"
"Nonsense! Don't be foolish!" laughed the doctor. Rose broke into sobs and Jacqueline recognized her, and the next moment mistress and maid were in each other's arms. They kissed and wept over each other for a minute or two and then Noel cried lightly:
"There you are! Now let's not have any more nonsense about dying!" While Noel kept up a running fire of pleasant chat in an effort to revive Jacqueline's spirits, Dr. Chennel drew Rose off to one side of the room.
"Where is M. Floriot?" he asked, in a low undertone.
"Just outside--with M. Raymond," replied Rose.