-cob pipe which he now rested on a projection of the brick
chimney that extended into the room and that served as mantel-piece.
All the while he cast snatched glances at Fanny, who sat pale and
tired. Her appearance seemed to move him to make an effort towards
relieving it. He took a key from his pocket and unlocking a side of
the _garde manger_, drew forth a small flask of whisky. Fanny had
closed her eyes and was not aware of his action, till she heard him at
her elbow saying in his feeble quavering voice:--

"_Tenez madame; goutez un peu: ca va vous faire du bien,_" and opening
her eyes she saw that he held a glass half filled with strong "toddy"
for her acceptance.

She thrust out her hand to ward it away as though it had been a
reptile that menaced her with its sting.

Morico looked nonplussed and a little abashed: but he had much faith
in the healing qualities of his remedy and urged it on her anew. She
trembled a little, and looked away with rather excited eyes.

"_Je vous assure madame, ca ne peut pas vous faire du mal._"

Fanny took the glass from his hand, and rising went and placed it on
the table, then walked to the open door and looked eagerly out, as
though hoping for the impossibility of her husband's return.

She did not seat herself again, but walked restlessly about the room,
intently examining its meager details. The circuit of inspection
bringing her again to the table, she picked up Morico's turkey fan,
looking at it long and critically. When she laid it down, it was to
seize the glass of "toddy" which she unhesitatingly put to her lips
and drained at a draught. All uneasiness and fatigue seemed to leave
her on the instant as though by magic. She went back to her chair and
reseated herself composedly. Her eyes now rested on her old host with
a certain quizzical curiosity strange to them.

He was plainly demoralized by her presence, and still made pretense of
occupying himself with the arrangement of the room.

Presently she said to him: "Your remedy did me more good than I'd
expected," but not understanding her, he only smiled and looked at her
blankly.

She laughed good-humoredly back at him, then went to the table and
poured from the flask which he had left standing there, liquor to the
depth of two fingers, this time drinking it more deliberately. After
that she tried to talk to Morico and thought it very amusing that he
could not understand her.

Presently Jocint came home and accept