'Oh, do, do,' said Averil, shuddering with eagerness. 'Thank you,
Miss Mary,' said Henry slowly. 'She is most kind--but--under the
circumstances--'

Mary went, finding that he only hesitated. She had little
opportunity for saying anything; Mrs. Pugh was full of interest and
eagerness, and poured out her sympathy and perfect understanding of
dear Averil's feelings; and in the midst Henry came out of the room,
with a stronger version of their gratitude, but in terrible
confusion. Mary would fain have retreated, but could not, and was
witness to the lady's urgent entreaties to take Minna home, and
Henry's thankfulness; but he feared--and retreated to ask the opinion
of his sisters, while Mrs. Pugh told Mary that it was so very bad for
the poor child to remain, and begged to have Ella if she were a
moment's inconvenience to the May family.

Henry came back with repeated thanks, but Minna could not bear to
leave home; and in fact, he owned, with a half smile that gave
sweetness to his face, she was too great a comfort to be parted with.
So Mrs. Pugh departed, with doubled and trebled offers of service,
and entreaties to be sent for at any hour of the day or night when
she could be of use to Averil.

Mary could not but be pleased with her, officious as she was. It
looked as if she had more genuine feeling for Henry than had been
suspected, and the kindness was certain, though some of it might be
the busy activity of a not very delicate nature, eager for the
importance conferred by intimacy with the subjects of a great
calamity. Probably she would have been gratified by the eclat of