l-work. She was wrapped up in the blanket off her
bed; her hair was all tumbled over her face, and her eyes were heavy
with sleep as she came up to the bedside where I was sitting.

"I've two hours good before I begin to work," says she, in her hoarse,
drowsy voice, "and I've come to sit up and take my turn at watching her.
You lay down and get some sleep on the rug. Here's my blanket for you. I
don't mind the cold--it will keep me awake."

"You are very kind--very, very kind and thoughtful, Sally," says I, "but
I am too wretched in my mind to want sleep, or rest, or to do anything
but wait where I am, and try and hope for the best."

"Then I'll wait, too," says Sally. "I must do something; if there's
nothing to do but waiting, I'll wait."

And she sat down opposite me at the foot of the bed, and drew the
blanket close round her with a shiver.

"After working so hard as you do, I'm sure you must want all the little
rest you can get," says I.

"Excepting only you," says Sally, putting her heavy arm very clumsily,
but very gently at the same time, round Mary's feet, and looking hard at
the pale, still face on the pillow. "Excepting you, she's the only soul
in this house as never swore at me, or give me a hard word that I can
remember. When you made puddings on Sundays, and give her half, she
always give me a bit. The rest of 'em calls me Dusty Sal. Excepting
only you, again, she always called me Sally, as if she knowed me in a
friendly way. I ain't no good here, but I ain't no harm, neither; and I
shall take my turn at the sitting up--that's what I shall do!"

She nestled her head down close at Mary's feet as she spoke those words,
and said no more. I once or twice thought she had fallen asleep, but
whenever I looked at her her heavy eyes were always wide open. She never
changed her position an inch till the church clocks struck six; then she
gave one little squeeze to Mary's feet with her arm, and shuffled out of
the room without a word. A minute or two after, I heard her down below,
lighting the kitchen fire just as usual.

A little later the doctor stepped over before his breakfast-time to see
if there had been any change in the night. He only shook his head when
he looked at her as if there was no hope. Having nobody else to consult
that I could put trust in, I showed him the end of the cravat, and told
him of the dreadful suspicion that had arisen in my mind when I found it
in her hand.

"You must keep it c