and obtain permission for them to see the "Home." Amelius, after some
hesitation, accepted the proposal. The messenger had not been long
despatched with the note before the smart person from the shop made her
appearance once more, reporting that "the young lady's outfit had been
perfectly arranged," and presenting the inevitable result in the shape
of a bill. The last farthing of ready money in the possession of Amelius
proved to be insufficient to discharge the debt. He accepted a loan from
Rufus, until he could give his bankers the necessary order to sell
out some of his money invested in the Funds. His answer, when Rufus
protested against this course, was characteristic of the teaching which
he owed to the Community. "My dear fellow, I am bound to return the
money you have lent to me--in the interests of our poor brethren. The
next friend who borrows of you may not have the means of paying you
back."

After waiting for the return of Simple Sally, and waiting in vain,
Amelius sent a chambermaid to her room, with a message to her. Rufus
disapproved of this hasty proceeding. "Why disturb the girl at her
looking-glass?" asked the old bachelor, with his quaintly humorous
smile.

Sally came in with no bright pleasure in her eyes this time; the girl
looked worn and haggard. She drew Amelius away into a corner, and
whispered to him. "I get a pain sometimes where the bruise is," she
said; "and I've got it bad, now." She glanced, with an odd furtive
jealousy, at Rufus. "I kept away from you," she explained, "because I
didn't want _him_ to know." She stopped, and put her hand on her bosom,
and clenched her teeth fast. "Never mind," she said cheerfully, as the
pang passed away again; "I can bear it."

Amelius, acting on impulse, as usual, instantly ordered the most
comfortable carriage that the hotel possessed. He had heard terrible
stories of the possible result of an injury to a woman's bosom. "I shall
take her to the best doctor in London," he announced. Sally whispered
to him again--still with her eye on Rufus. "Is _he_ going with us?"
she asked. "No," said Amelius; "one of us must stay here to receive a
message." Rufus looked after them very gravely, as the two left the room
together.

Applying for information to the mistress of the hotel, Amelius obtained
the address of a consulting surgeon of great celebrity, while Sally was
getting ready to go out.

"Why don't you like my good friend upstairs?" he said to the girl