I see it is not the
decorous humbug it once looked like. And now that I would have
learnt, here I go to Monaco."

"You will learn. You have a work before you that will teach you."

"My boys are young enough to start with on a different tack," she
said. "You will tell me--no--I'll not hinder you now. I shall see
you again."

Julius was too anxious to get home to refuse to be released, much as
he felt for this brave woman. The day before, Herbert had been
frightfully faint and exhausted by the morning's attack of fever,
but had been so still ever since that there was a shade of hope that
the recurrence might not take place; and this hope grew stronger,
when Jenny came into the outer room to say that the usual time for
the fever was passing so quietly in a sort of sleep that Dr. Worth
seemed to think rally possible, if only there was no fresh access.

They stood over the fire, and Julius asked, "Can't you lie on the
sofa, Jenny? I can stay."

"No," said Jenny, restlessly. "No, I can't. I know you have
something to tell me."

"Moy has come home, Jenny. He is in terrible trouble. His daughter
has eloped with young Simmonds at the training stables."

"The most appropriate end of her bringing up," said Jenny, in the
hard tone it was so difficult to answer--it was so unlike herself--
and her thought was that weak pity and forbearance would hinder
exertions in Archie's cause. "Generous at other folks' expense,"
said she to herself. "Sparing the guilty and leaving the innocent
to exile!"

But a moaning murmur, and Cranstoun's movement at once summoned them
both to the bedside.

Alas! here was the attack that the doctor had evidently apprehended
as likely to be fatal. Hour after hour did sister, nurse, and
friend stand watching, and doing their best, their piteously little
best, while consciousness, if there was any, was far out of their
reach.

Late into the night it went on, and then followed the collapse, with
locked teeth, which could hardly be drawn asunder to put the
stimulus hopelessly between them, and thus came the tardy December
dawn, when the church-bell made Jenny bid Julius not stay, but only
first read the commendatory prayer.

"I thought there was a little more revival just now," he said; "his
hands are warmer, and he really did swallow."

The old nurse shook her head. "That's the way before they go," said
she. "Don't ye wish him, poor lamb, it makes it the harder for
him."

Juliu