to look at
them sometimes," she said, "and think how much better off I am now."
Rufus was the last to take his departure; he persisted in talking to the
landlady all the way down the stairs and out to the street door.

While Amelius was waiting for his friend on the house-steps, a young
man driving by in a cab leaned out and looked at him. The young man was
Jervy, on his way from Mr. Ronald's tombstone to Doctors' Commons.

CHAPTER 3

With a rapid succession of events the morning had begun. With a rapid
succession of events the day went on.

The breakfast being over, rooms at the hotel were engaged by Rufus for
his "two young friends." After this, the next thing to be done was to
provide Simple Sally with certain necessary, but invisible, articles of
clothing, which Amelius had never thought of. A note to the nearest shop
produced the speedy arrival of a smart lady, accompanied by a boy and
a large basket. There was some difficulty in persuading Sally to trust
herself alone in her room with the stranger. She was afraid, poor soul,
of everybody but Amelius. Even the good American failed to win her
confidence. The distrust implanted in her feeble mind by the terrible
life that she had led, was the instinctive distrust of a wild animal.
"Why must I go among other people?" she whispered piteously to Amelius.
"I only want to be with You!" It was as completely useless to
reason with her as it would have been to explain the advantages of
a comfortable cage to a newly caught bird. There was but one way of
inducing her to submit to the most gently exerted interference. Amelius
had only to say, "Do it, Sally, to please me." And Sally sighed, and did
it.

In her absence Amelius reiterated his inquiries, in relation to
that unknown friend whom Rufus had not scrupled to describe as "an
angel--barring the wings."

The lady in question, the American briefly explained, was an
Englishwoman--the wife of one of his countrymen, established in London
as a merchant. He had known them both intimately before their departure
from the United States; and the old friendship had been cordially
renewed on his arrival in England. Associated with many other charitable
institutions, Mrs. Payson was one of the managing committee of a "Home
for Friendless Women," especially adapted to receive poor girls in
Sally's melancholy position. Rufus offered to write a note to Mrs.
Payson; inquiring at what hour she could receive his friend and himself,