ring the preceding weeks. But her natural timidity and
hesitancy had forbidden her so far to draw hasty deductions. And
now--perforce!--she drew them.

The sounds in the next room seemed to communicate their rhythm of pain to
Lucy's own heart. She could not bear it after a while. She noiselessly
opened her own door, and went to Helena's. To her scarcely audible knock
there was no answer. After an interval she knocked again--a pause. Then
there were movements inside, and Helena's muffled voice through the door.

"Please, Lucy, go to sleep! I am all right."

"I can't sleep. Won't you let me in?"

Helena seemed to consider. But after an interval which seemed
interminable to Lucy Friend, the key was slowly turned and the
door yielded.

Helena was standing inside, but there was so little light in the room
that Lucy could only see her dimly. The moon was full outside, but the
curtains had been drawn across the open window, and only a few faint rays
came through. As Mrs. Friend entered Helena turned from her, and groping
her way back to the bed, threw herself upon it, face downwards. It was
evidently the attitude from which she had risen.

Lucy Friend followed her, trembling, and sat down beside her. Helena was
still fully dressed, except for her hair, which had escaped from combs
and hairpins. As her eyes grew used to the darkness, Lucy could see it
lying, a dim mass on the white pillow, also a limp hand upturned. She
seized the hand and cherished it in hers.

"You are so cold, dear! Mayn't I cover you up and help you into bed?"

No answer. She found a light eiderdown that had been thrown aside, and
covered the prone figure, gently chafing the cold hands and feet. After
what seemed a long time, Helena, who had been quite still, said in a
voice she had to stoop to hear:

"I suppose you heard me crying. Please, Lucy, go back to bed. I won't cry
any more."

"Dear--mayn't I stay?"

"Well, then--you must come and lie beside me. I am a brute to keep
you awake."

"Won't you undress?"

"Please let me be! I'll try and go to sleep."

Lucy slipped her own slight form under the wide eiderdown. There was a
long silence, at the end of which Helena said:

"I'm only--sorry--it's all come to an end--here."

But with the words the girl's self-control again failed her. A deep sob
shook her from head to foot. Lucy with the tears on her own cheeks, hung
over her, soothing and murmuring to her as a mother might have done. But