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The moon rose when Dr Rowland brought Lady Notley across the park to Holcot Grange, the sultry mists dispersed. The lady trembled greatly as she came nearer and nearer to her husband’s presence and began to lament her daring in undertaking this journey which she was sure was against his wish and in a manner forcing herself into the presence of one whom she dared swear had forgotten her.

‘But I do it for my children’s sake,’ she said, ‘and a little, too, for his own, for there is none other save myself who really cares to save him.’

‘To save him from what, Lady Notley?’ asked Dr Rowland kindly.

‘To save him from all those evils that crowd about him.’

‘Sincere love can do much,’ said Dr Rowland. ‘We so few of us have the strength of simplicity. My studies and experiments have set me something beyond good or evil. I see them fused as one or two facets of the same theme. Yet I have,’ he murmured, half to himself, ‘my low desires, my base instincts, and must at intervals satisfy them.’

She did not understand what he meant, and as they neared the garden, which was full of noxious fumes of rotting flowers, her fears increased and when she saw the one light in the window of the Grange and he told her that was where her husband waited, she began to weep.

‘Alas, poor creature,’ said Dr Rowland, ‘I know not what power you have, but we must make the attempt. I am a physician, but I know when I meet cases beyond my skill.’

‘Is he ill?’ sighed the lady. ‘Oh, ever since I was married to him I have feared disaster and disgrace.’

‘Perhaps even now you can avert it, madam. Yes, I think he is ill. He is like the ill-kept instruments among which he sits, all ajarred and out of tune, his mind full of delusions and his body full of pain. He moves as in a dark dream, and constantly sees wrestling phantoms.’

They reached the house; the door was open and they entered without much sound and passed into the room where Dr Rowland had left Sir William Notley.

They found the young man prostrate on a couch, still clasping the crucifix. His brow and upper lip glistened with sweat, and his coat was loosened at the throat.

At sight of his suffering all the lady’s fears vanished. She came forward with the greatest confidence and kneeling by his side took his hand, so that both of them clasped the crucifix, and said:

‘William, I have come to take you home. This is a desolate, and, I fear, an evil place.’

He rose up then to a sitting posture and looked at her. Dr Rowland brought the lantern from the window-place so that he might see her clearly. In that moment she was truly beautiful and her husband had not looked on real beauty since he had seen her last.

‘Take her,’ said Dr Rowland, ‘and ride away at once, not even staying to find a woman’s saddle, but taking her up pillion behind you. You have done with the fantastic drama of Holcot Grange, and a reckless and despairing man stops at nothing to save himself, so begone.’

Sir William gave his wife’s hand a convulsive pressure and rose to his feet.

‘Do not let go of her,’ said Dr Rowland, still standing with the lantern held aloft. ‘Keep her close to you always. While she is with you you will not be conscious of those alluring forces, half-peril and half-delight, which have nearly destroyed you.

The Doctor bowed politely and the young couple left the room full of discarded, broken, musical instruments. He watched them go out into the quadrangle and pass through the great iron gates, she holding close on his arm, and looking lovingly up into his face, and presently while he listened he heard Sir William’s horse bearing his wife away from Holcot Grange. And after that it was very silent.

Dr Rowland was a little perplexed at his own sensations, but nothing could for long disturb one whose fancy had so many worlds in which to range. He was sorry that he would have to leave the oasthouse, but there was no choice.

He returned slowly under the mounting moon to his little dwelling and packed up all the implements of his experiments in readiness for an immediate departure. Nor would he, he knew, ever come to this part of the world again.

But Phoebe and Julia Roseingrave continued to live alone in the Dower House beyond the chestnut trees in the park.

THE END