followed Mrs Jenkles across the road.
Mingled with pity for the poor girl he was about to visit, there was a
sense of resentment; for she seemed to have been the cause of pain and
sorrow to one he dearly loved. And yet, how innocent and gentle she
was--how unlike any one he had met before! Pity may or may not be akin
to love, but certainly it was very strong in Richard's breast at the
present moment.

"If you'll step in the kitchen just a moment, sir, I'll see if you can
go up," said Mrs Jenkles, smoothing her apron.

She ushered the visitor into the clean, bright place, where Sam was
seated by the fireside, looking very hard at his pipe.

"How do, sir, how do?" he said. "Take a cheer, sir."

"Thanks, no, Sam, I'll stand," said Richard, quietly. "But where's your
pipe?"

"There it hangs, sir," said Sam, folding his arms and looking at it.

"No tobacco?"

"Plenty, sir," said Sam; "but I've put the pipe out at home, sir: cos
why? It sets that poor gal a-coughing, and that spoils it. It's a
wonder, aint it, as doctors can't do more?"

Further converse was cut short by the entrance of Mrs Jenkles, who
beckoned their visitor to come, and he followed her upstairs to the neat
little front room, where a pang shot through Richard as he saw the
change. Netta was half lying on a couch, propped up by pillows, and
beside her, on a table, were the two plants he had sent across,
evidently carefully tended,--not a withered leaf to be seen amongst
their luxuriant foliage, while she who had made them her care lay there,
white, shrunken, and so changed.

There was a bright smile of pleasure flickering about her lips, and a
ray of gladness flashing from her eyes, as she held out her hands to
him--hands that he caught in his and kissed, as he sank on his knees by
her side.

"My poor girl!" he exclaimed, huskily, "is it so bad as this?"

"I'm so glad you are come," she whispered; and then she lay gazing at
him, as if her very soul were passing from her eyes to his. "I've
longed and prayed so for this. I thought once that it wasn't to be--
that I was never to see you again; but I'm better now."

"Better--yes; and you'll soon grow strong and well again."

"Do you think so?" she said, looking at him wistfully, while an
incredulous smile was upon her lips. "But don't let's talk of that.
Sit down by me, where I can see you--I've so much to say."

He drew a chair to her side, and, as he did so, he saw that they were
al