of air, country air, is absolutely necessary for
her--which it really is--but she must not be taken from her mother.
Distract her mind as much as possible from the trouble, whatever it is,
that oppresses it. Had she been left much longer to herself, she would
have quite lost her reason. Let her see such friends as can be trusted
to talk to her cheerfully and to amuse, without wearying her. If you
undertake this office, Miss Gladys, you will require all your patience,
and more than your natural health; and once undertaken, you must not
give it up, for she will get used to you, and depend upon you. Poor
thing! poor thing! I have seen many such cases, and never need to
inquire much into private history to know their origin. Wicked, morose,
unfeeling, cruel husbands are generally at the root, and God only knows
what their victims have to bear. There will be a pretty large account to
make up at the Great Day, Mr Prothero, between man and wife, of marriage
vows broken, and feelings outraged.'

'And my poor--and Mrs Mills,' said Rowland, 'ought, you think, to be
removed at once from London?'

'Decidedly, if she can be prevailed upon to go of her own free will, not
otherwise. I will see her again to-morrow, and watch her case as long as
she remains here. As regards the poor child, Miss Gladys, she, too, must
be nursed and amused, and well fed. I suppose she has been neglected
since the measles that her mother told me of, or else she never was a
strong child. Poor little lamb! It would kill her mother if she were to
be taken! But, really, I couldn't say--however, we shall see. Good
morning. I ought to be elsewhere by this time.'

Mr Wenlock took his departure.

'Miss Gwynne is coming directly, Mr Rowland,' said Gladys; 'I suppose I
had better tell Mrs Jenkins so. She has been out all the morning,
purchasing everything she thought Mrs Jenkins and Miss Minette could
want, and is going to bring what she has bought, in a cab, herself,'

'God bless her!' murmured Rowland. 'Gladys, do say Minette, and not
Miss. Why will you not consider yourself as a friend--a sister?'

Why did that quick, bright flush spread so suddenly over Gladys' pale
face?

'Thank you, Mr Rowland, I will. But I cannot forget what I really was,
and am.'

'You are and have been everything to us all, and now all our hopes seem
to centre in you. Can Miss Gwynne spare you?'

'She proposed my coming herself; but even if she had not, my first duty
is to my d