Get anything that she needs." Then, as Gershom followed Patty into the hall, he pointed to the fine old staircase.

"It's the back room.

Go straight up.

You ain't timid, are you ?" "Timid?
Oh, no." Running lightly up the stairs, the girl hesitated a moment before the half-open door of the room at the back of the house.
Then, in obedience to a gesture from Gershom as he pushed the door wider, she crossed the threshold, and went rapidly toward a couch in front of the window.

As she went forward there floated to her a heavy, sweetish scent which seemed to her to be the very breath of despair.