haven't much time."

She knew him too well to insist; instead, she burst into what gayety
she could summon, for that was how he liked her. But back in her mind
there was a growing tremor of apprehension:--there was something
wrong; she could not tell what it was, but she felt it. She said to
herself that she would not speak of Mr. Benjamin Wright until after
dinner.

Little by little, however, her uneasiness subsided. It became evident
that the excitement of the morning had not been too much for Maggie;
things were very good, and Lloyd Pryor was very appreciative, and
Helena's charm more than once touched him to a caressing glance and a
soft word. But as they got up from the table he glanced at his watch,
and she winced; then smiled, quickly. She brought him his cigar and
struck a light; and he, looking at her with handsome, lazy eyes,
caught the hand which held the flaming match, and lit his cigar in
slow puffs.

"Now I must go and give a look at David," she said.

"Look here, Nelly," he protested, "aren't you rather overdoing this
adopted-mother business?"

She found the child rather flushed and in an uneasy doze. Instantly
she was anxious. "Don't leave him, Sarah," she said. "I'll have Maggie
bring your dinner up to you. Oh, I _wish_ I didn't have to go
downstairs!"

"I'm afraid he is worse," she told Lloyd Pryor with a worried frown.