selves fiercely that
each coin was of genuine silver--and then became partially pacified.

"Go along upstairs," she growled, addressing her son; "and don't keep
the lady waiting any longer. They're half starved, she and her child,"
the woman proceeded, turning to me. "The food my boy has got for them
in his basket will be the first food the mother has tasted today. She's
pawned everything by this time; and what she's to do unless you help
her is more than I can say. The doctor does what he can; but he told me
today, if she wasn't better nourished, it was no use sending for _him_.
Follow the boy; and see for yourself if it's the lady you know."

I listened to the woman, still feeling persuaded that I had acted under
a delusion in going to her house. How was it possible to associate
the charming object of my heart's worship with the miserable story
of destitution which I had just heard? I stopped the boy on the first
landing, and told him to announce me simply as a doctor, who had been
informed of Mrs. Brand's illness, and who had called to see her.

We ascended a second flight of stairs, and a third. Arrived now at the
top of the house, the boy knocked at the door that was nearest to us
on the landing. No audible voice replied. He opened the door without
ceremony, and went in. I waited outside to hear what was said. The door
was left ajar. If the voice of "Mrs. Brand" was (as I believed it would
prove to be) the voice of a stranger, I resolved to offer her delicately
such help as lay within my power, and to return forthwith to my post
under "the shadow of Saint Paul's."

The first voice that spoke to the boy was the voice of a child.

"I'm so hungry, Jemmy--I'm so hungry!"

"All right, missy--I've got you something to eat."

"Be quick, Jemmy! Be quick!"

There was a momentary pause; and then I heard the boy's voice once more.

"There's a slice of bread-and-butter, missy. You must wait for your egg
till I can boil it. Don't you eat too fast, or you'll choke yourself.
What's the matter with your mamma? Are you asleep, ma'am?"

I could barely hear the answering voice--it was so faint; and it
uttered but one word: "No!"

The boy spoke again.

"Cheer up, missus. There's a doctor outside waiting to see you."

This time there was no audible reply. The boy showed himself to me at
the door. "Please to come in, sir. _I_ can't make anything of her."

It would have been misplaced delicacy to have hesitated any longer