t feel at ease in my new home under the restraint
of a presence more accustomed to intimidate than attract strangers, I
threw aside all doubts of myself and met the advances of both father and
daughter with that quiet confidence which my position there demanded.

The result both gratified and grieved me. As a nurse entering on her
first case I was happy; as a woman with an ulterior object in view
verging on the audacious and unspeakable, I was wretched and regretful
and just a little shaken in the conviction which had hitherto upheld me.

I was therefore but poorly prepared to meet the ordeal which awaited me,
when, a little later in the day, Mr. Grey called me into the adjoining
room, and, after saying that it would afford him great relief to go
out for an hour or so, asked if I were afraid to be left alone with my
patient.

"O no, sir--" I began, but stopped in secret dismay. I was afraid, but
not on account of her condition; rather on account of my own. What if
I should be led into betraying my feelings on finding myself under no
other eye than her own! What if the temptation to probe her poor sick
mind should prove stronger than my duty toward her as a nurse!

My tones were hesitating but Mr. Grey paid little heed; his mind was too
fixed on what he wished to say himself.

"Before I go," said he, "I have a request to make--I may as well say a
caution to give you. Do not, I pray, either now or at any future time,
carry or allow any one else to carry newspapers into Miss Grey's room.
They are just now too alarming. There has been, as you know, a dreadful
murder in this city. If she caught one glimpse of the headlines, or saw
so much as the name of Fairbrother--which--which is a name she knows,
the result might be very hurtful to her. She is not only extremely
sensitive from illness but from temperament. Will you be careful?"

"I shall be careful."

It was such an effort for me to say these words, to say anything in the
state of mind into which I had been thrown by his unexpected allusion to
this subject, that I unfortunately drew his attention to myself and it
was with what I felt to be a glance of doubt that he added with decided
emphasis:

"You must consider this whole subject as a forbidden one in this family.
Only cheerful topics are suitable for the sick-room. If Miss Grey
attempts to introduce any other, stop her. Do not let her talk about
anything which will not be conducive to her speedy recovery. These