The doctor had been sent for, and was still in the house.

I consulted him upon the propriety of my delivering the message.

He positively forbade me to do so that night, and told me to give him the slip of paper, and leave it to his discretion to show it to her or not the next morning.
The messenger had hardly been gone an hour when Mr.Meeke's housekeeper came to the Hall with a roll of music for my mistress.

I told the woman of my master's sudden departure, and of the doctor being in the house.
This news brought Mr.Meeke himself to the Hall in a great flutter.
I felt so angry with him for being the cause--innocent as he might be--of the shocking scene which had taken place, that I exceeded the bounds of my duty, and told him the whole truth.

The poor, weak, wavering, childish creature flushed up red in the face, then turned as pale as ashes, and dropped into one of the hall chairs crying--literally crying fit to break his heart.