much under this."

"Perhaps you were stronger than you are now," said Mrs. Bradley, gazing
at him with a frank curiosity that, however, brought a faint deepening
of color to his cheek.

"I dare say you're right," he said suddenly, with an apologetic smile.
"I quite forgot that I'm a sort of an invalid, you know, travelling
for my health. I'm not very strong here," he added, lightly tapping
his chest, that now, relieved of the bands of his knapsack, appeared
somewhat thin and hollow in spite of his broad shoulders. His voice,
too, had become less clear and distinct.

Mrs. Bradley, who was still watching him, here rose potentially. "You
ought to take more care of yourself," she said. "You should begin by
eating this biscuit, drinking that glass of whiskey, and making yourself
more comfortable in Jim's room until we can get the spare room fixed a
little."

"But I am not to be sent to bed--am I?" asked Mainwaring, in half-real,
half-amused consternation.

"I'm not so sure of that," said Mrs. Bradley, with playful precision.
"But for the present we'll let you off with a good wash and a nap
afterwards in that rocking-chair, while my cousin and I make some
little domestic preparations. You see," she added with a certain proud
humility, "we've got only one servant--a Chinaman, and there are many
things we can't leave to him."

The color again rose in Mainwaring's cheek, but he had tact enough to