A thrill of pure fear struck him through and through.

He laid one hand on the door to steady himself, and stepped forward as Ferrall came up.
"Oh! You're awake, Stephen.

Here's a telegram." He extended his hand.
Siward took the yellow envelope, fumbled it, tore it open.
"Good God!" whispered Ferrall; "is it bad ?" And Siward's glazed eyes stared and stared at the scrawled and inky message: "YOUR MOTHER IS VERY ILL.

COME AT ONCE." The signature was the name of their family physician, Grisby..