He remembered his first sight of her; her little figure swaying to and fro as she balanced herself on the slippery stones, half smiling at her own dilemma, with a bright, happy light in the eyes that seemed like a reflection from the glancing waters sparkling below.

Then he recalled the changed, affrighted look of those eyes as they met his, after the child's rebuff of her advances;--how that little incident filled up the tale at which Mrs Hughes had hinted, in a kind of sorrowful way, as if loath (as a Christian should be) to believe evil.

Then that fearful evening, when he had only just saved her from committing suicide, and that nightmare sleep! And now, lost, forsaken, and but just delivered from the jaws of death, she lay dependent for everything on his sister and him,--utter strangers a few weeks ago.

Where was her lover?
Could he be easy and happy?
Could he grow into perfect health, with these great sins pressing on his conscience with a strong and hard pain?
Or had he a conscience?
Into whole labyrinths of social ethics Mr Benson's thoughts wandered, when his sister entered suddenly and abruptly.
"What does the doctor say?
Is she better ?" "Oh, yes! she's better," answered Miss Benson, sharp and short.

Her brother looked at her in dismay.