e can be sent for. I thought you would like to
know, ma'am. I've been talking to the landlady, and she's quite
agreeable for my wife to come on for a bit and help to wait on Mr.
Lepel. She's there now."

"I am very much obliged to you for coming, Jenkins."

"I thought, ma'am," continued Jenkins, "that, if ever you was passing
that way, you might like to look in maybe to ask after Mr. Lepel, you
know. If you was good enough always to ask for my wife, you see, ma'am,
she could tell you how my master was, or any news about him."

Cynthia grasped the situation at once, and felt her face flush as she
listened to the man's awkward kindly words. Evidently Jenkins knew that
she was unacquainted with Mr. Lepel's family, and was trying to save her
from the unpleasantness of meeting any of them unexpectedly. The thought
gave her a moment's bitter humiliation; then she saw the kindliness of
the motive and felt a throb of gratitude.

"It is very good of you to tell me that, Jenkins," she said, frankly
putting out her hand to him, "and I am very much obliged to you. I shall
come to-morrow; it is impossible for me to come to-night."

Jenkins was not accustomed to have his hand shaken by those whom he
served, and Cynthia's action embarrassed him considerably. He was glad
when she went on to ask a question.

"Do you think that Mr. Lepel is very--very ill?" There was a pathetic
tremor in her voice.

"Well, ma'am, he don't know nothing; he lies there and talks to
himself--that's all."

"He is unconscious! Oh!" cried Cynthia, as if the words had given her a
stab of pain. "Does he talk about any one--anything?" she asked
wistfully.

"We can't tell much of what he says, ma'am. But I think he was mainly
anxious to see you. He kep' on sending messages to you; and that's
partly why I come round this evening."

Cynthia wrung her hands.

"And I can't go--at least to-night; and I must--I must!"

"Don't you take on, ma'am," said Jenkins, evidently much moved by her
distress. "I wouldn't trouble about to-night if I was you. Mrs. Vane may
be there again, or the General, and a host o' folks. It would only
bother them, and do my master no good, if you went to-night. To-morrow
morning'll be the time. And now I must be going; for I could only get
away while my wife was there, and she wanted to get back to the children
by nine o'clock."

So Jenkins took his leave, and Cynthia went up to her room to dress for
her party.

What a mockery i