hat she seated herself, and he began to work. He felt
as if some fair saint were sitting to him, and that the picture would
never come out right without a nimbus round the head. As he went on with
his rapid drawing in charcoal he saw a change settle heavily upon the
face before him. Utter sadness seemed to come there as soon as the lines
relaxed into their natural look.

At last, when he felt he had done enough to entitle her to feel that
she had really rendered service, he threw a cloth over the picture and
declared the sitting ended. She did not, however, ask to look at it, but
went over at once to where the baby lay, and stood looking down upon
him. Noel, who had followed her, stood silently beside her for some
moments. Suddenly she said aloud:

"I am very miserable."

He took it in silence, as he had taken her former confession of
happiness. Presently she went on:

"I said, a little while ago, that I was happy, and for a moment I seemed
to feel it in spite of all the misery. God knows I don't forget to thank
Him that my baby is better"--her lips trembled--"but what is his dear
life to be? What is mine to be? Always like this? Oh, God help me! My
heart is broken."

He thought she was going to cry, but she did not. She only clasped her
hands hard together and drew in her lower lip, clenching it in her
teeth.

"Perhaps I ought not to speak like this," she said. "I don't know
whether it is very wrong or not. But it is so long since any one was
kind to me or seemed to care."

"It is not wrong," said Noel, "don't think it. Ease your heart by
speaking, if it comforts you. Try to remember what we are to each
other--think of me as your brother."

Thus invited, he hoped she would speak freely, but she caught her lip
again, as if in the effort of self-repression, and shook her head. Noel
was hurt.

"Do you not trust me?" he said.

"I trust you always," she answered. "You are good and kind and true, and
not like other men. Oh, how bad they are! What things they can think of
a woman! The world is dark and evil, and I and my baby are
alone--alone--alone!"

The vehemence of this outburst seemed to recall her to herself and her
surroundings, and by a tremendous effort she managed to attain a manner
and expression of calm. The baby stirred and opened its eyes, and in a
moment everything else was forgotten.

A few moments later, when, with the child in her arms, she was ready to
go, Noel, as he handed her her gloves