his time Amboyne was putting himself in Jael's Dence's place.

"Is there a good fire in her room?" asked he, with a significant look.

Raby took the hint, and said he would go and see.

As soon as he was out of the room, the transmigrator began to talk very
fast to Jael. "Now look here, Jael, that poor man is alone in the world
now, and very sad; he wants you to keep his house for him. He has been
sending messages all day after you, and your room has been ready ever so
long."

"My room in this house?"

"Yes. But we could not find you. However, here you are. Now you must not
go back to the farm. The poor squire won't be quite so sad if he sees
you about him. You know he was always fond of you Dences. You should
have seen him cry over you just now when he thought you were dead."

"I am more cared for than I thought," said Jael, softly.

"Yes, but not more than you deserve, my dear." He dipped a sponge-cake
in wine. "Oblige me by eating that."

She took it submissively.

"Now another."

She ate another, and a third.

"It's a very wicked lass you are so good to," said she, softly, and some
gentle tears began to flow.

"Stuff and nonsense!" said the doctor. "What do you know about
wickedness? I'm a better judge of that than you, and I say you are the
best girl and the most unselfish girl in the world; and the proof is
that, instead of sitting down and nursing your own griefs, you are going
to pluck up courage, and be a comfort to poor Mr. Raby in his lonely
condition."

These words appeared to sink into Jael's mind: she put her hands to her
head, and pondered them. Perhaps she might have replied to them, but
Raby came down, and ordered her to her apartment.

She took a step or two in that direction, but presently drew back and
would not move. "The women-folk! They'll see me on the stair, this
figure."

"Not they. They are all in bed."

"Are they so? Then please let me go to the kitchen for a dry cloth or
two."

"What to do?"

"To dry the rug a bit. Just look--what a mess I've made!"

"I'll say it was the dog."

"Will you, though? Oh, but you are a good friend to me this night. Then
I'll go. Let me wring my gown a bit, not to mess the stairs as well."

"No, no; I'll take all the blame. Will you go, or must the doctor and I
carry you?"

"Nay, nay, there's no need. Your will is my pleasure, sir."

So Mr. Raby showed Jael to her room, and opened a great wardrobe, and
took out several armfuls of ant