d then we will think what is to be
done."

"Yes, dear, that will be best. But, Livy, I really cannot wait just
now. All this has hindered me so that I have not been to the
Traverses'. I shall not be long--not more than half an hour."

Olivia looked rather troubled at this, but it was no use making a fuss.
Marcus must do his work, but her vision of a cosy evening was sadly
marred. Instead of listening to _Esmond_ she had to interview a
strange man.

Directly Marcus had gone she went into the sitting-room; the couch had
been drawn near the fire and Marcus's easy chair was pushed back, and
there in the warmth and firelight, with an old plaid thrown over him,
the forlorn wanderer lay sleeping as placidly as a child.

Olivia trod on tiptoe as she crossed the room and stood beside the
couch, and studied him attentively.

Marcus was right; of course he was a gentleman; in spite of his
emaciated appearance and poor, threadbare garments, this was evident;
the features were well-cut and refined; the wasted hands bore no signs
of manual labour, and the filbert nails were carefully attended.

Some poor prodigal fallen to low estate lay before her, and yet he
looked so boyish and innocent in his sleep, that Olivia's heart grew
very pitiful over him.

Turn him out in the winter's cold, and on Christmas night, too; when
all the merciful angels were moving betwixt heaven and earth. When the
bond of brotherhood that linked human beings together was drawn closer,
and the rich man's gift and the widow's mite were paid into the same
treasury of love, it was impossible!

How soundly he was sleeping, poor fellow, lulled by the very fulness of
comfort, his sick hunger appeased, and his bones no longer aching with
cold. A fair moustache covered his mouth, but Olivia, who prided
herself on reading character, soon decided that the chin and lower part
of the face showed signs of weakness, but as the thought passed through
her mind a pair of deep blue eyes opened full on her face, and gazed at
her in bewilderment.

"Where am I?" he said, feebly; "oh, I remember, I fainted on a
doorstep, and some good Samaritan carried me in;" then in the same weak
voice, "Forgive me, madam, but I am afraid to rise."

"Lie still--please lie still until my husband comes back," returned
Olivia, a little nervously. How ill he looked--the eyes looked
preternaturally large in the wasted face. "It is sad to see anyone in
such distress," she continued