pe.

"I have been visiting poor Mrs Leven," he said to Mrs Roby, sitting
down beside her, "and I fear she is a good deal worse to-night. That
kind little woman, Netta White, has agreed to sit by her. I'm sorry
that I shall be obliged to leave her at such a critical stage of her
illness, but I am obliged to go abroad for some time."

"Goin' abroad, sir!" exclaimed Mrs Roby in surprise, for the Captain
had not yet told her that Lawrence was to be of the party, although he
had mentioned about himself and Gillie White.

"Yes, I'm going with Mrs Stoutley's family for some weeks to
Switzerland."

Captain Wopper felt that his share in the arrangements was in danger of
being found out. He therefore boldly took the lead.

"Ah! _I_ know all about that, sir."

"Indeed?" said Lawrence.

"Yes, I dined the other day with Mrs Stoutley; she asked _me_ also to
be of the party, and I'm going."

Lawrence again exclaimed, "Indeed!" with increasing surprise, and added,
"Well, now, that _is_ a strange coincidence."

"Well, d'ee know," said the Captain, in an argumentative tone, "it don't
seem to me much of a coincidence. You know she had to git some one to
go with her son, and why not you, sir, as well as any of the other young
sawbones in London? If she hadn't got you she'd have got another, and
that would have been a coincidence to _him_, d'ee see? Then, as to me,
it wasn't unnatural that she should take a fancy to the man that nussed
her dyin' husband, an' was chum to her brother-in-law; so, you see,
that's how it came about and I'm very glad to find, sir, that we are to
sail in company for a short time."

Lawrence returned this compliment heartily, and was about to make some
further remark, when little Netta White rushed into the room with a
frightened look and pale cheeks, exclaiming, "Oh, Dr Lawrence, sir,
she's _very_ ill. I think she's dying."

Without waiting for a reply, the child ran out of the room followed by
Lawrence and Mrs Roby, who was assisted by the Captain--for she walked
with great difficulty even when aided by her crutches. In a few seconds
they stood beside Mrs Leven's bed. It was a lowly bed, with scant and
threadbare coverings, and she who lay on it was of a lowly spirit--one
who for many years had laid her head on the bosom of Jesus, and had
found Him, through a long course of poverty and mental distress, "a very
present help in trouble."

"I fear that I'm very ill," she said, faintly.

"N