he looked them well over, drawing out their narration of the
wonderful things 'she' had done, the fingers pointing to designate
who she was. His look at her over his spectacles made Mary's heart
bound and feel compensated for whatever Mr. Henry Ward might say of
her. When the children had finished their story, he beckoned her out
of the room, promising them that he would not keep her long.

'Well done, Molly,' he said smiling, 'it is well to have daughters
good for something. You had better stay with them till that poor
maid has had her sleep out, and can come to them.'

'I should like to stay with them all day, only that Ethel must want
me.'

'You had better go home by dinner-time, that Ethel may get some air.
Perhaps I shall want one of you in the evening to be with them at the
time of the funeral.'

'So soon!'

'Yes, it must be. Better for all, and Henry is glad it should be so.
He is out on the sofa to-day, but he is terribly cut up.'

'And Leonard?'

'I see some improvement--Burdon does not--but I think with Heaven's
good mercy we may drag him through; the pulse is rather better. Now
I must go. You'll not wait dinner for me.'

Mary spent the next hour in amusing the children by the fabrication