It amazed Patty to find how gentle he could be when his sympathy was touched.

"I oughtn't to have brought you to-day." Turning away, he left the room hurriedly, as if the scene were too much for him.
At this the woman controlled herself with a convulsive effort.

"No, I wanted to see you," she said.

"You are pretty, but you aren't prettier than your mother was at your age." For a moment the girl looked pityingly down on her.

"I hope you will soon be better," she responded in a tone which she tried to make sympathetic in spite of the physical shrinking she felt.