the breast of their lodger was akin to the tender passion.

"Am I in yo're way?" he would ask apologetically; and the answer was
invariably a gracious if curt one: "No--no more than th' cat. Stay wheer
yo' are, lad, an' make yo'resen' comfortable."

There came a change, however, in the nature of their intercourse, but
this did not occur until the lad had been with them some three months.
For several days he had been ailing and unlike himself. He had been even
more silent than usual; he had eaten little, and lagged on his way
to and from his work; he looked thinner, and his step was slow and
uncertain. There was so great an alteration in him, in fact, that Bess
softened toward him visibly. She secretly bestowed the best morsels upon
him, and even went so far as to attempt conversation. "Let yo're work go
a bit," she advised: "yo're noan fit fur it."

But he did not give up until the third week of illness, and then one
warm day at noon, Bess, at work in her kitchen among dishes and pans,
was startled from her labors by his appearing at the door and staggering
toward her. "What's up wi' yo'?" she demanded. "Yo' look loike death."

"I dunnot know," he faltered, and then, staggering again, caught at her
dress with feeble hands "Dunnot yo'," he whispered, sinking forward--
"dunnot yo' let no one--come anigh me."

She flung a strong arm around him, and saved him from a heavy fall. His
head dropped helplessly against her breast.

"He's fainted dead away," she said: "he mun ha' been worse than he thowt
fur."

She laid him down, and, loosening his clothes at the throat, went for
water; but a few minutes after she had bent over him for the second
time an exclamation, which was almost a cry, broke from' her. "Lord ha'
mercy!" she said, and fell back, losing something of color herself.

She had scarcely recovered herself even when, after prolonged efforts,
she succeeded in restoring animation to the prostrate figure under her
hands. The heavy eyes opening met hers in piteous appeal and protest.

"I--thowt it wur death comn," said the lad. "I wur hopin' as it wur
death."

"What ha' yo' done as yo' need wish that?" said. Bess; and then, her
voice shaking with excitement which got the better of her and forced her
to reveal herself, she added, "I've fun' out that as yo've been hidin'."

Abrupt and unprefaced as her speech was, it scarcely produced the effect
she had expected it would. Her charge neither flinched nor reddened.