died Empty's the only thing
I've got to lean aginst, though I must say he's mighty wobbly at times."

Douglas followed Mrs. Dempster into the little bedroom off the kitchen
where the invalid girl was lying. He was somewhat startled by the
marked contrast between Jean's white face and her jet-black hair which
was flowing over the pillow in rich confusion. She smiled as she
reached out her thin hand and welcomed the visitor.

"Ye'd better set right down here, sir," Mrs. Dempster advised, as she
drew up a chair. "I'm goin' to leave yez to have a nice little chat
while I clear up the dinner dishes. It'll do ye a heap of good, won't
it, dear?" and she stroked Jean's head. "But ye mustn't talk too much."

Douglas glanced around the little room. It was a cosy place, and the
partly-opened window let in the fresh air from the surrounding fields,
together with the sound of the twitter of birds and the hum of bees.

"This was my room," the widow explained, "until Jean took possession of
it. She wanted to stay right close to me an' wouldn't go to the
spare-room off the parlour. I haven't had time to fix it up, an' I've
asked Empty time an' time agin to git somethin' to put over that
stove-pipe hole in the wall, an' that one in the ceilin'. But my land!
ye might as well save ye'r breath as to ask that boy to do anything.
But, there now, I must be off."

The good woman's face was beaming as she left the house and went back
to the apple tree.

"Where's Empty?" she demanded of Joe, when she discovered that the lad
was nowhere to be seen.

"I don't know," was the reply. "He got up just after you left, but I
didn't notice where he went."

"That's jist like the boy. He's never around when he's wanted. He
does try my patience at times," and the widow gave a deep sigh as she
began to gather up the dishes.

In the meantime, Jean and Douglas were engaged in an earnest
conversation. It was somewhat constrained at first, but this feeling
shortly vanished.

"It was so good of you to play for me," Jean remarked. "I feel better
than I have for days. I guess the music has chased the clouds away."

"I am so thankful that I have been able to help you," Douglas replied.
"You have had a hard time of late."

"Indeed I have. It seems to me that I have had a terrible dream. Oh,
it was horrible."

"You must forget all about that now, and get well as soon as possible."

"Why should I get better? What have I to live for?"