"That's better," said he, pausing with his hand
upon the door. "You look pale, Mr. Johnson."

"Oh no, sir, not at all," he answered
deprecatingly, mopping his brow with his
handkerchief.

"There is no immediate cause for alarm," said
Dr. Miles. "The case is not all that we could
wish it. Still we will hope for the best."

"Is there danger, sir?" gasped Johnson.

"Well, there is always danger, of course. It is
not altogether a favourable case, but still it might
be much worse. I have given her a draught. I saw as
I passed that they have been doing a little building
opposite to you. It's an improving quarter. The
rents go higher and higher. You have a lease of your
own little place, eh?"

"Yes, sir, yes!" cried Johnson, whose ears were
straining for every sound from above, and who felt
none the less that it was very soothing that the
doctor should be able to chat so easily at such a
time. "That's to say no, sir, I am a yearly tenant."

"Ah, I should get a lease if I were you. There's
Marshall, the watchmaker, down the street. I