第90章

Withaquietandtenderhandsheputasideastrayingfoldofthesleeper’shair，andthentouchedthehandthatlayoutsidethecovering。

’Iliketolookather，’shebreathedtoherself。’Iliketoseewhathasaffectedhimsomuch。’

Shehadnotwithdrawnherhand，whenthesleeperopenedhereyesandstarted。

’Praydon’tbealarmed。Iamonlyoneofthetravellersfromdown-

stairs。Icametoaskifyouwerebetter，andifIcoulddoanythingforyou。’

’Ithinkyouhavealreadybeensokindastosendyourservantstomyassistance？’

’No，notI；thatwasmysister。Areyoubetter？’

’Muchbetter。Itisonlyaslightbruise，andhasbeenwelllookedto，andisalmosteasynow。Itmademegiddyandfaintinamoment。Ithadhurtmebefore；butatlastitoverpoweredmeallatonce。’

’MayIstaywithyouuntilsomeonecomes？Wouldyoulikeit？’

’Ishouldlikeit，foritislonelyhere；butIamafraidyouwillfeelthecoldtoomuch。’

’Idon’tmindcold。Iamnotdelicate，ifIlookso。’Shequicklymovedoneofthetworoughchairstothebedside，andsatdown。

Theotherasquicklymovedapartofsometravellingwrapperfromherself，anddrewitoverher，sothatherarm，inkeepingitabouther，restedonhershoulder。

’Youhavesomuchtheairofakindnurse，’saidthelady，smilingonher，’thatyouseemasifyouhadcometomefromhome。’

’Iamverygladofit。’

’IwasdreamingofhomewhenIwokejustnow。Ofmyoldhome，I

mean，beforeIwasmarried。’

’Andbeforeyouweresofarawayfromit。’

’Ihavebeenmuchfartherawayfromitthanthis；butthenItookthebestpartofitwithme，andmissednothing。IfeltsolitaryasIdroppedasleephere，and，missingitalittle，wanderedbacktoit。’Therewasasorrowfullyaffectionateandregretfulsoundinhervoice，whichmadehervisitorrefrainfromlookingatherforthemoment。

’Itisacuriouschancewhichatlastbringsustogether，underthiscoveringinwhichyouhavewrappedme，’saidthevisitorafterapause；’fordoyouknow，IthinkIhavebeenlookingforyousometime。’

’Lookingforme？’

’IbelieveIhavealittlenotehere，whichIwastogivetoyouwheneverIfoundyou。Thisisit。UnlessIgreatlymistake，itisaddressedtoyou？Isitnot？’

Theladytookit，andsaidyes，andreadit。Hervisitorwatchedherasshedidso。Itwasveryshort。Sheflushedalittleassheputherlipstohervisitor’scheek，andpressedherhand。

’Thedearyoungfriendtowhomhepresentsme，maybeacomforttomeatsometime，hesays。SheistrulyacomforttomethefirsttimeIseeher。’

’Perhapsyoudon’t，’saidthevisitor，hesitating——’perhapsyoudon’tknowmystory？Perhapshenevertoldyoumystory？’

’No。’

’Ohno，whyshouldhe!Ihavescarcelytherighttotellitmyselfatpresent，becauseIhavebeenentreatednottodoso。Thereisnotmuchinit，butitmightaccounttoyouformyaskingyounottosayanythingabouttheletterhere。Yousawmyfamilywithme，perhaps？Someofthem——Ionlysaythistoyou——arealittleproud，alittleprejudiced。’

’Youshalltakeitbackagain，’saidtheother；’andthenmyhusbandissurenottoseeit。Hemightseeitandspeakofit，otherwise，bysomeaccident。Willyouputitinyourbosomagain，tobecertain？’

Shedidsowithgreatcare。Hersmall，sligh