man had better go to Mr Walcot, ma'am, as I have been
telling her. There's no doubt he is at home."

"I could wait here till the gentleman comes home," said the tall woman;
"and so get the first advice for my poor baby. 'Tis very ill, ma'am."

"Better go to Mr Walcot," persisted Morris.

"Or to my brother at Mr Grey's," said Margaret, unwilling to lose the
chance of a new patient for Edward, and thinking his advice better, for
the child's sake, than Mr Walcot's.

"It is far the readiest way to go to Mr Walcot's," declared Maria,
whose arm Margaret felt to tremble within her own.

"I believe you are right," said Margaret. "You had better not waste any
more time here, good woman. It may make all the difference to your
child."

"If you would let me wait till the gentleman comes home," said the tall
woman.

"Impossible. It is too late to-night for patients to wait. This lady's
landlord, without there, will show you the way to Mr Walcot's. Call
him, Morris."

Morris went out upon the steps, but the tall woman passed her, and was
gone. Morris stepped in briskly, and put up the chain.

"You were very ready to send a new patient to Mr Walcot, Morris," said
Margaret, smiling.

"I had a fancy that it was a sort of patient that my master would not be
the better for," replied Morris. "I did not like the looks of the
person."

"Nor I," said Maria.

The drawing-room door was heard to open, and Morris put her finger on
her lips. Hester had been alone nearly ten minutes; she was growing
nervous, and wanted to know what all this talking in the hall was about.
She was told that Mr Hope had been inquired for, about a sick baby;
and the rest of the discourse went to the account of Maria's unexpected
arrival. Hester welcomed Maria kindly, ordered up the cold pheasant and
the wine, and then, leaving the friends to enjoy themselves over the
fire, retired to rest. Morris was desired to go too, as she still slept
in her mistress's room, and ought to keep early hours, since, in
addition to her labours of the day, she was at the baby's call in the
night. Margaret would see her friend to her room. Morris must not
remain up on their account.

"How comfortable this is!" cried Maria, in a gleeful tone, as she looked
round upon the crackling fire, the tray, the wine, and her companion.
"How unlooked for, to pass a whole evening and night without being
afraid of anything!"

"What an admission from you!--that you are afr