Thus, after this first day, many days came and went before I again
saw John Halifax--almost before I again thought of him. For it was
one of my seasons of excessive pain; when I found it difficult to
think of anything beyond those four grey-painted walls; where
morning, noon, and night slipped wearily away, marked by no changes,
save from daylight to candle-light, from candle-light to dawn.

Afterwards, as my pain abated, I began to be haunted by occasional
memories of something pleasant that had crossed my dreary life;
visions of a brave, bright young face, ready alike to battle with and
enjoy the world. I could hear the voice that, speaking to me, was
always tender with pity--yet not pity enough to wound: I could see
the peculiar smile just creeping round his grave mouth--that
irrepressible smile, indicating the atmosphere of thorough
heart-cheerfulness, which ripens all the fruits of a noble nature,
and without which the very noblest has about it something
unwholesome, blank, and cold.

I wondered if John had ever asked for me. At length I put the
question.

Jael "thought he had--but wasn't sure. Didn't bother her head about
such folk."

"If he asked again, might he come up-stairs?"

"No."

I was too weak to combat, and Jael was too strong an adversary; so I