Be gentle with her--that is all I ask." The door opened, and Mrs.Capella entered.

Helen's observations had prepared Brett to some extent, yet he was shocked to see the havoc wrought in Margaret's appearance by days of suffering and nights of sleepless agony.
Her face was drawn and ivory-white, her eyes unnaturally brilliant, her lips bloodless and pinched.

She was again garbed in black, and the sombre effect of her dress supplied a startling contrast to the deathly pallor of her features.
She recognised Brett's presence by a silent bow, and sank on to a couch.
She was not acting, but really ill, overwrought, inert, physically weak from want of food and sleep.
Helen ran to her side, and took her in a loving clasp.
"You poor darling!" she cried.

"Why are you suffering so ?" Now there was nothing on earth Brett detested so thoroughly as a display of feminine sentiment, no matter how spontaneous or well-timed.

At heart he was conscious of kindred emotions.