till they come home. I told him, between the
spasms, that I had sent for you, and he seemed pleased."

"If only I were anybody else!"

Dr. May again threw his arm round her, and looked into her face. He felt
that he had rather have her, such as she was, than anybody else; and,
together, they sat down, and talked of what was to be done, and what
was best for Meta, and of the solemnity of being in the house of death.
Ethel felt and showed it so much, in her subdued, awe-struck manner,
that her father felt checked whenever he was about to return to his
ordinary manner, familiarised, as he necessarily was, with the like
scenes. It drew him back to the thought of their own trouble, and their
conversation recurred to those days, so that each gained a more full
understanding of the other, and they at length separated, certainly with
the more peaceful and soft feelings for being in the abode of mourning.

Bellairs promised to call Ethel, to be with her young lady as early as
might be, reporting that she was sound asleep. And sleep continued to
shield her till past her usual hour, so that Ethel was up, and had been
with Dr. May, before she was summoned to her, and then she found her
half dressed, and hastening that she might not make Dr. May late for
breakfast, and in going to his patients. There was an elasticity in the
happily constituted young mind that could not be entirely struck down,
nor deprived of power of taking thought for others. Yet her eyes looked
wandering, and unlike themselves, and her words, now and then, faltered,
as if she was not sure what she was doing or saying. Ethel told her not
to mind--Dr. Spencer would take care of the patients; but she did not
seem to recollect, at first, who Dr. Spencer was, nor to care for being
reminded.

Breakfast was laid out in the little sitting-room. Ethel wanted to take
the trouble off her hands, but she would not let her. She sat behind her
urn, and asked about tea or coffee, quite accurately, in a low, subdued
voice, that nearly overcame Dr. May. When the meal was over, and she had
rung the bell, and risen up, as if to her daily work, she turned
round, with that piteous, perplexed air, and stood for a moment, as if
confused.

"Cannot we help you?" said Ethel.

"I don't know. Thank you. But, Dr. May, I must not keep you from other
people--"

"I have no one to go to this morning," said Dr. May. "I am ready to stay
with you, my dear."

Meta came closer to him, and