come into my head; to hear me thinking, any one would imagine it was
only on account of my own vanity that I wanted to see him, whereas it
is quite the contrary. As a rule I hate sick people, and I'm sure it
is most disagreeable to me to meet that woman.'

The two o'clock train took her to town, a hansom from Victoria to the
studio; she dismissed the hansom at the corner and walked up the
street thinking of the woman who would open the door to her. There was
something about the woman she didn't like. But it didn't matter; she
would be shown in at once, and of course left alone with Ralph...
Supposing the woman were to sit there all the while. But it was too
late now, she had knocked.

'I've come to see Mr. Hoskin.' Feeling that her speech was too abrupt
she added, 'I hope he is better to-day.'

'Yes, I'm thankful to say he's a little better.'

Mildred stopped in the passage, and Ellen said:

'Mr. Hoskin isn't in his bedroom. We've put him into the studio.'

'I hope she doesn't think that I've been in his bedroom,' thought
Mildred. Ralph lay in a small iron bed, hardly more than a foot from
the floor, and his large features, wasted by illness, seemed larger
than ever. But a glow appeared in his dying eyes at the sight of
Mildred. Ellen placed a chair by his bedside and said:

'I will go out for a short walk. I shan't be away more than half an
hour.'