f that
subsides, delirium is almost sure to supervene, and we shall have some
painful scenes. It's one of those complicated cases in which the delirium
is likely to be of the worst kind--meningitis and delirium tremens
together--and we may have a good deal of trouble with him. If Mrs.
Dempster were told, I should say it would be desirable to persuade her to
remain out of the house at present. She could do no good, you know. I've
got nurses.'

'Thank you,' said Mr. Tryan. 'That is what I wanted to know. Good-bye.'

When Mrs. Pettifer opened the door for Mr. Tryan, he told her in a few
words what had happened, and begged her to take an opportunity of letting
Mrs. Raynor know, that they might, if possible, concur in preventing a
premature or sudden disclosure of the event to Janet.

'Poor thing!' said Mrs. Pettifer. 'She's not fit to hear any bad news;
she's very low this evening--worn out with feeling; and she's not had
anything to keep her up, as she's been used to. She seems frightened at
the thought of being tempted to take it.'

'Thank God for it; that fear is her greatest security.'

When Mr. Tryan entered the parlour this time, Janet was again awaiting
him eagerly, and her pale sad face was lighted up with a smile as she
rose to meet him. But the next moment she said, with a look of
anxiety,--'How very ill and tired you look! You have been working so
hard all day, and yet you are come to talk to me. O, you are wearing
yourself out. I must go and ask Mrs. Pettifer to come and make you have
some supper. But this is my mother; you have not seen her before, I
think.'

While Mr. Tryan was speaking to Mrs. Raynor, Janet hurried out, and he,
seeing that this good-natured thoughtfulness on his behalf would help to
counteract her depression, was not inclined to oppose her wish, but
accepted the supper Mrs. Pettifer offered him, quietly talking the while
about a clothing club he was going to establish in Paddiford, and the
want of provident habits among the poor.

Presently, however, Mrs. Raynor said she must go home for an hour, to see
how her little maiden was going on, and Mrs. Pettifer left the room with
her to take the opportunity of telling her what had happened to Dempster.
When Janet was left alone with Mr. Tryan, she said,--'I feel so uncertain
what to do about my husband. I am so weak--my feelings change so from
hour to hour. This morning, when I felt so hopeful and happy, I thought I
should like to go back