was going to be a third nurse in the house, it would be out of
keeping to make any ceremony with him. Dolly's supper itself was
faultless. She had some cold game, sent by Lady Brierley or by her
order; she had fresh raspberries sent by Mrs. Jersey, and a salad of
cresses. But Mrs. Copley would not be persuaded to make her appearance.
She did not want to see strangers; she did not like to leave Mr.
Copley; in short, she excused herself obstinately, to Dolly's distress.
However, she made no objection to having Mr. Shubrick take her place
for the night; and she promised Dolly that if she got a good night's
sleep and was rested, she would appear at breakfast.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE NURSE.

Dolly made her mother's excuses, which seemed to her visitor perfectly
natural, and ushered him down to the supper laid in the little kitchen;
Dolly explaining very simply that her mother and she had lived there
since there had been sickness in the house, and had done so for want of
hands to make other arrangements possible. And Mr. Shubrick seemed also
to find it the most natural thing in the world to live in the kitchen,
and for all that appeared, had never taken his meals anywhere else in
his life. He did justice to the supper too, which was a great
gratification to Dolly; and lifted the kettle for her from the hob when
she wanted it, and took his place generally as if he were one of the
family. As for Dolly, there came over her a most exquisite sense of
relief; a glimpse of shelter and protection, the like of which she had
not known since she could hardly remember when. True, it was transient;
it could not abide; Mr. Shubrick was sitting there opposite her like
some one that had fallen from the clouds, and whom mist and shadow
would presently swallow up again; but in the meanwhile, what a gleam of
light his presence brought! He would go soon again, of course; he must;
but to have him there in the meantime was a momentary comfort
unspeakable. More than momentary; he would stay all night. And her
mother would get a night's sleep. For her own part, this feeling of
rest was already as good as sleep. Yes, for once, for a little, a
strong hand had come between her and her burdens. Dolly let herself
rest upon it, with an intense appreciation of its strength and
sufficiency.

And so resting, she observed her new helper curiously. She noticed how
entirely he was the same man she had seen that Christmas Day in Rome;
the same here as the