f-unconscious state he did not know. He
suddenly opened his eyes. The back-brand had burnt itself in two, and
ceased to flame; the light which he had placed on the mantelpiece had
nearly gone out. But in spite of these deficiencies there was a light in
the apartment, and it came from elsewhere. Turning his head he saw
Philip Hall's wife standing at the entrance of the room with a bed-candle
in one hand, a small brass tea-kettle in the other, and his gown, as it
certainly seemed, still upon her.

'Helena!' said Darton, starting up.

Her countenance expressed dismay, and her first words were an apology.
'I--did not know you were here, Mr. Darton,' she said, while a blush
flashed to her cheek. 'I thought every one had retired--I was coming to
make a little water boil; my husband seems to be worse. But perhaps the
kitchen fire can be lighted up again.'

'Don't go on my account. By all means put it on here as you intended,'
said Darton. 'Allow me to help you.' He went forward to take the kettle
from her hand, but she did not allow him, and placed it on the fire
herself.

They stood some way apart, one on each side of the fireplace, waiting
till the water should boil, the candle on the mantel between them, and
Helena with her eyes on the kettle. Darton was the first to break the
silence. 'Shall I call Sally?' he said.

'O no,' she quickly returned. 'We have given trouble enough already. We
have no right here. But we are the sport of fate, and were obliged to
come.'

'No right here!' said he in surprise.

'None. I can't explain it now,' answered Helena. 'This kettle is very
slow.'

There was another pause; the proverbial dilatoriness of watched pots was
never more clearly exemplified.

Helena's face was of that sort which seems to ask for assistance without
the owner's knowledge--the very antipodes of Sally's, which was
self-reliance expressed. Darton's eyes travelled from the kettle to
Helena's face, then back to the kettle, then to the face for rather a
longer time. 'So I am not to know anything of the mystery that has
distracted me all the evening?' he said. 'How is it that a woman, who
refused me because (as I supposed) my position was not good enough for
her taste, is found to be the wife of a man who certainly seems to be
worse off than I?'

'He had the prior claim,' said she.

'What! you knew him at that time?'

'Yes, yes! Please say no more,' she implored.

'Whatever my errors, I h