Yesterday I stood for quite a while with my eyes fixed upon the ground, not daring to look and learn the truth." Anthony groaned, and once more the old man went on: "She is a very unselfish girl, Barbara, or perhaps I should say was, perhaps I should say was.

That is how she caught this horrible inflammation.

Three weeks ago she and her sister Janey went for a long walk to the Ness, to--to--oh! I forget why they went.

Well, it came on to pour with rain; and just as they had started for home, fortunately, or rather unfortunately, old Stevens the farmer overtook them on his way back from market and offered them a lift.

They got into the cart and Barbara took off the mackintosh that her aunt gave her last Christmas--it is the only one in the house, since such things are too costly for me to buy--and put it over Janey, who had a cold.