doctoring and careful nursing, prevailed against the dread
illness which had fastened on her brain. As she slowly got better, the
blurred shadows which had previously hovered about her took shape into
doctor, nurses, and Mrs Trivett. When they told her how ill she had
been, and how much better she was, despair filled her heart. She had no
wish to live; her one desire was to join her little one beyond the
grave.

A time came when the improvement which had set in was not maintained;
she failed to get better, yet did not become worse, although Mavis
rejoiced in the belief that her health was daily declining. Often, she
would wake in the night to listen with glad ears to the incessant
ticking of the American clock on the mantelpiece. If alone she would
say:

"Go on, go on, little clock, and shorten the time till I again see my
dearest."

As if in obedience to her behest, the clock seemed to tick with renewed
energy.

Sometimes she would try and picture the unspeakable bliss which would
be hers when the desire of her heart was gratified. She often thanked
God that she would soon be with Him and her little one. She believed
that He found His happiness in witnessing the joy of mothers at again
meeting with their children from whom they had been parted for so long.

She had no idea who paid the expenses of her illness; she was assured
by Mrs Trivett, whom she often questioned on the subject, that there
was no cause for uneasiness on the matter. Her health still refusing to
improve, a further medical adviser was called in. He suggested foreign
travel as the most beneficial course for Mavis to pursue. But the
patient flatly refused to go abroad; for a reason she could not divine,
the name of Swanage constantly recurred to her mind. She did not at
once remember that she had seen the name on the labels of the luggage
which had cumbered the hall on the night when she had called at the
Devitts. She often spoke of this watering-place, till at last it was
decided that, as she had this resort so constantly in her mind, it
might do her good to go there. Even then, it was many more weeks before
she was well enough to be moved. She remained in a condition of torpor
which the visits of Windebank or Miss Toombs failed to dissipate. At
last, when a mild February came, it was deemed possible for her to make
the journey. The day before it was arranged that she should start, she
was told that a gentleman, who would give no name, and who ha