nd want of animation, Miss Williams
had some claims to good looks. She had soft grey eyes, with remarkably
long lashes, and the coils of fair hair set off a finely shaped head.

"My husband thought that you seemed rather lonely," returned Olivia, in
her usual straightforward fashion. Then a faint colour rose to Miss
Williams's face.

"Yes, it was so kind of him to propose it, and I was very grateful. I
suppose he told you that I had no friends--no one, I mean, that I could
ask to come in and sit with me a little. I know the next-door people
slightly. We call at intervals, and they have invited me to a party,
but I have never got beyond that. It has been difficult for me to make
friends. I am rather shy--and----" here she broke off rather awkwardly.

"I think I know what you mean," replied Olivia. "When one is in
trouble, one wants real friends, not chance acquaintances, and if one
has not made them----"

"Just so--that is precisely my case. Circumstances have been to blame,
for I think I am sociable by nature. Dr. Luttrell was very quick; he
understood at once, and he said it was not good for me to be so much
alone. Oh, he was such a comfort to me. Even the first moment he did
not seem like a stranger. I felt before half-an-hour was over that I
could trust him implicitly. And when he suggested yesterday that you
should come and cheer me up, I said yes at once."

"I was very glad to come," replied Olivia, quickly. "Like yourself, I
have no friends here, with the exception of another patient of my
husband's, an old gentleman who lives opposite to us. So I hope you
will let me be of some use to you. You know," after a moment's
hesitation, "Dr. Luttrell is not one to talk about his patients, but he
told me a little about your trouble."

"So I imagined, and of course it makes it easier for me." And here
Miss Williams's lips trembled slightly. "You could not help me or be
any comfort without knowing a little. Oh, Mrs. Luttrell, is it not
dreadful? My poor father, and such a good father, too. He is just
killing himself, I know that."

"And you are all alone?"

"Yes, since my mother died. Things were bad enough then, but they have
been worse since. She used to be able to influence him and keep him
straight, but he will not listen to me."

"Have you had this to bear long?" and Olivia looked at her pityingly.
What a life for a young, sensitive girl!

"For some years. Ever since Dacre, my broth