ard Robinson's quavering voice
make the delicious announcement, "Mrs. Dashwood!"

CHAPTER II

MORAL SUPPORT

May Dashwood's features were not faultless. For instance, her determined
little nose was rather short and just a trifle retrousse and her
eyebrows sometimes looked a little surprised. Her great charm lay not in
her clear complexion and her bright brown hair, admirable as they were,
but in her full expressive grey eyes, and when she smiled, it was not
the toothy smile of professional gaiety, but a subtle, archly animated
and sympathetic smile; so that both men and women who were once smiled
at by her, immediately felt the necessity of being smiled at again!

May was still dressed in mourning, very plainly, and she wore no furs.
She came into the room and looked round her.

"May!" exclaimed Lady Dashwood.

"I thought you were ill, Aunt Lena!" said May amazed at the sight of
Lady Dashwood, dressed for dinner and apparently in robust health.

"I _am_ ill," exclaimed Lady Dashwood, and she tapped her forehead. "I'm
ill here," and she advanced to meet her niece with open arms.

"Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Dashwood, hastening up to her aunt.

"I'm still partially sane, May--but--if you hadn't come!" said Lady
Dashwood, kissing her niece on both cheeks. She did not finish her
sentence.

Mrs. Dashwood put both hands on her aunt's shoulders and examined her
face carefully.

"Yes, I see you're quite sane, Aunt Lena."

"Will you minister to a mind--not actually diseased but oppressed by a
consuming worry?" asked Lady Dashwood earnestly. "Don't think I'm a
humbug--I need you much more, just now, than if I'd been merely
ill--with a bilious attack, say. You've saved my life! I wish I could
explain--but it is difficult to explain--sometimes."

"I'm glad I've saved your life," said May, and she smiled her peculiar
smile.

"I see victory--the battle won--already," said Lady Dashwood, looking at
her intently. "I wish I could explain----"

"Let it ooze out, Aunt Lena. I can stay for three days--if you want--if
I can really do anything for you----"

"Can't you stay a week?" asked Lady Dashwood. "May, I'm not joking. I
want your presence badly--can't you spare the time? Relieve my mind,
dear, at once, by telling me you can!"

Lady Dashwood's face suddenly became puckered and her voice was so
urgent that May's smile died away.

"If it is really important I'll stay a week. Nothing wrong about
you--or--Uncle John