, I owe her something for turning back to your help.
Are you sure she was going to drown herself?"

"I cannot be sure, for I have not questioned her. She has not been in
a state to be questioned; but I have no doubt whatever about it. But
you must not think of sitting up after your journey, Faith."

"Answer me, Thurstan. Do you feel any bad effect from that fall?"

"No, hardly any. Don't sit up, Faith, to-night!"

"Thurstan, it's no use talking, for I shall; and, if you go on
opposing me, I dare say I shall attack your back, and put a blister
on it. Do tell me what that 'hardly any' means. Besides, to set you
quite at ease, you know I have never seen mountains before, and they
fill me and oppress me so much that I could not sleep; I must keep
awake this first night, and see that they don't fall on the earth and
overwhelm it. And now answer my questions about yourself."

Miss Benson had the power, which some people have, of carrying her
wishes through to their fulfilment; her will was strong, her sense
was excellent, and people yielded to her--they did not know why.
Before ten o'clock she reigned sole power and potentate in Ruth's
little chamber. Nothing could have been better devised for giving her
an interest in the invalid. The very dependence of one so helpless
upon her care inclined her heart towards her. She thought she
perceived a slight improvement in the symptoms during the night, and
she was a little pleased that this progress should have been made
while she reigned monarch of the sick-room. Yes, certainly there was
an improvement. There was more consciousness in the look of the eyes,
although the whole countenance still retained its painful traces of
acute suffering, manifested in an anxious, startled, uneasy aspect.
It was broad morning light, though barely five o'clock, when Miss
Benson caught the sight of Ruth's lips moving, as if in speech. Miss
Benson stooped down to listen.

"Who are you?" asked Ruth, in the faintest of whispers.

"Miss Benson--Mr Benson's sister," she replied.

The words conveyed no knowledge to Ruth; on the contrary, weak as a
babe in mind and body as she was, her lips began to quiver, and her
eyes to show a terror similar to that of any little child who wakens
in the presence of a stranger, and sees no dear, familiar face of
mother or nurse to reassure its trembling heart.

Miss Benson took her hand in hers, and began to stroke it
caressingly.

"Don't be afraid, dear; I'm