back against the wall.
The tears smarted under my eyelids, and I answered at random to the
remarks made to me. How I longed to be alone for a little while, until I
could realize all the change that had come into my life!

We had been in the drawing-room again only a few minutes, when we heard
the hall-door opened, and a voice speaking. By common consent, as it
were, every one fell into silence to listen. I looked up for a moment,
and saw that all three of them had turned their eyes upon me; friendly
eyes they were, but their scrutiny was intolerable. Dr. Senior began to
talk busily with Miss Carey.

"Hush!" cried Minima, who was standing beside Dr. John, "hush! I believe
it is--yes, I am sure it is Dr. Martin!"

She sprang to the door just as it was opened, and flung her arms round
him in a transport of delight. I did not dare to lift my eyes again, to
see them all smiling at me. He could not come at once to speak to me,
while that child was clinging to him and kissing him.

"I'm so glad," she said, almost sobbing; "come and see my auntie, who
was so ill when you were in Ville-en-bois. You did not see her, you
know; but she is quite well now, and very, very rich. We are never going
to be poor again. Come; she is here. Auntie, this is that nice Dr.
Martin, who made me promise not to tell you he was at Ville-en-bois,
while you were so ill."

She dragged him eagerly toward me, and I put my hand in his; but I did
not look at him. That I did some minutes afterward, when he was talking
to Miss Carey. It was many months since I had seen him last in Sark.
There was a great change in his face, and he looked several years older.
It was grave, and almost mournful, as if he did not smile very often,
and his voice was lower in tone than it had been then. Dr. John, who was
standing beside him, was certainly much gayer and handsomer than he was.
He caught my eye, and came back to me, sitting near enough to talk with
me in an undertone.

"Are you satisfied with the arrangements we have made for you?" he
inquired.

"Quite," I said, not daring either to thank him, or to tell him how
oppressed I was by my sudden change. Both of us spoke as quietly, and
with as much outward calm, as if we were in the habit of seeing each
other every day. A chill came across me.

"At one time," he continued, "I asked Johanna to open her home to you;
but that was when I thought you would be safer and happier in a quiet
place like hers than anywhere