did not, why the screens had been placed there. The nurse drew one
aside, and then slipped away. There was absolute silence there when
these four met again. Walter, who had been sitting with his face buried
in his hands, rose from the chair and offered it to Gladys, but he did
not look at her, nor did any sort of greeting pass between them. Gladys
mechanically sat down, then Walter walked away slowly out of the ward.
With a low cry, Teen flung herself on her knees, laying her face on the
white, wasted hand of Liz as it lay outside the coverlet. The figure in
the bed, raised up in a half-sitting posture, had an unearthly beauty in
the haggard face, a brilliance in the eye, which struck her chilly to
the heart; it was like Liz, and yet strangely unlike. Gladys felt a
strange thrill pass over her as she bent towards her, trying to smile,
and to say a word of kindly greeting. It brought no answering smile to
the dying girl's face, and the only sign of recognition she betrayed was
to raise her feeble hand and touch the bowed head of the little
seamstress with a tender touch, never bestowed in the days of health and
strength.

'Weel,' she said, looking at Gladys, and speaking in the feeblest
whisper, 'I'm gled ye've come. I couldna dee withoot seem' ye. Ye bear
me nae grudge for takin' French leave? Ye can see I've suffered for it.
I say, is't true that ye are to be mairried to George Fordyce? Tell me
that plain. I must ken.'

These words were spoken with difficulty at intervals, and so feebly that
Gladys had to bend forward to catch the sound. She felt that there was
not only anxiety, but a certain solemnity in the question, and she did
not evade it, even for a moment.

'They have fixed my marriage for the eighth of October,' she answered;
and the manner of the reply struck even Liz, and her great hollow eyes
dwelt yet more searchingly on the girl's sweet face.

'It'll no' be noo,' she said. 'I've lain here ever since the nurse telt
me she heard it was to be, wonderin' whether I should tell. If ye hadna
been what ye are I wad never hae telt; but, though I hae suffered, I
wad spare you. It was him that brocht me to this.'

Gladys neither started nor trembled, but sat quite motionless, staring
at the sad, beautiful face before her, as if not comprehending what was
said to her.

'It was him that led me awa' first, an' when a lassie yince gets on that
road, it's ill keepin' straicht. He said he wad mairry me, an' I
believ