ery finger of God's providence, as though you saw it
hanging out of the sky, she said. Here was a lady ill and needing a new
nurse that very day, and not able to get one to her mind, and now--well,
if it wasn't enough to convert all the Atheists and Freethinkers in the
Transvaal, she didn't know!

Then the landlady proceeded to detail facts.

"I'm sure you will suit her," she added; "you're just the kind. She has
heaps of money to pay you with; has everything that money can buy. And I
got a letter with a check in it for fifty pounds the other day from some
one, who says I'm to spend it for her, and not to let her know. She is
asleep now, but I'll take you in to look at her."

The landlady opened the door of the next room, and Gregory followed her.
A table stood near the bed, and a lamp burning low stood on it; the bed
was a great four-poster with white curtains, and the quilt was of rich
crimson satin. But Gregory stood just inside the door with his head bent
low, and saw no further.

"Come nearer! I'll turn the lamp up a bit, that you can have a look at
her. A pretty thing, isn't it?" said the landlady.

Near the foot of the bed was a dent in the crimson quilt, and out of it
Doss' small head and bright eyes looked knowingly.

Then Gregory looked up at what lay on the cushion. A little white, white
face, transparent as an angel's with a cloth bound round the forehead,
and with soft hair tossed about on the pillow.

"We had to cut it off," said the woman, touching it with her forefinger.
"Soft as silk, like a wax doll's."

But Gregory's heart was bleeding.

"Never get up again, the doctor says," said the landlady.

Gregory uttered one word. In an instant the beautiful eyes opened
widely, looked round the room and into the dark corners.

"Who is here? Whom did I hear speak?"

Gregory had sunk back behind the curtain; the landlady drew it aside,
and pulled him forward.

"Only this lady, ma'am--a nurse by profession. She is willing to stay
and take care of you, if you can come to terms with her."

Lyndall raised herself on her elbow, and cast one keen scrutinizing
glance over him.

"Have I never seen you before?" she asked.

"No."

She fell back wearily.

"Perhaps you would like to arrange the terms between yourselves," said
the landlady. "Here is a chair. I will be back presently."

Gregory sat down, with bent head and quick breath. She did not speak,
and lay with half-closed eyes, seeming to have f