was uncertain, but in it there was not the disapproval I had expected
from the telling of my promise to Mrs. Cotter. "You can't keep her,
can you?"

I shook my head. "She mustn't stay in town. The doctor says her
case is too advanced to be arrested, and the only thing that can be
done is to make her as comfortable and happy as possible until
she--can go--to her mother. I don't know what is best to be done. I
must be near enough to see her every now and then. Mr. Guard will
tell me what to do. Whenever I don't know I ask him. He always
helps me."

"Are you never to ask me to--help you?" Selwyn's voice was low, but
from his eyes was no escape, and as the light from the door which I
had opened with my latch-key fell upon his face I saw it flush--saw
in it what I had never seen before.

"You!" I was very tired, and something long held back struggled for
utterance. "You!" The word was half a sob. "If only you--"

Mrs. Mundy was coming down the hall, and at the door her hands went
out to take the child from Selwyn. "Bettina told me, and I thought
perhaps you'd bring the little creature here. I've got a place all
fixed. You are tired out." She turned to me, and then to Selwyn.
"Thank you, sir, for taking care of her--for going with her and
bringing her back. I'm sorry I wasn't here to do it myself. She's
needing of some one to look after her." Turning, she went down the
hall with the child in her arms, and Selwyn, also turning, walked
down the steps and got into the cab.