But outside the stars were shining, the flowers still blooming, the garden was full of the mystery of sweet odours; close by the sea was singing its soothing lullaby, and God was over all! But let us get back to the underworld! "How long have we lived together, did you ask?
well, ever since we were born, and she is sixty-seven," pointing to a paralysed woman, who was sitting in front of the window.

"I am two years younger," she continued, "and we have never been separated; we have lived together, worked together, and slept together, and if ever we did have a holiday, we spent it together.

And now we are getting old, just think of it! I am sixty-five, isn't it terrible?
They always used to call us 'the girls' when mother, father and my brothers were alive, but they have all gone--not one of them left.

But we 'girls' are left, and now we are getting old--sixty-five--isn't it terrible?
We ought to be ashamed of it, I suppose, but we are not, are we, dear?
For we are just 'the girls' to each other, and sometimes I feel as strong and as young as a girl." "How long have you lived in the top of this four-storey house ?" I asked.
"Sixteen years," came the reply.

"All alone ?" "No, sir, we have been together." "And your sister, how long has she been paralysed ?" "Before we came to this house." "Does she ever go out ?" "Of course she does; don't I take her out in the bath-chair behind you ?" "Can she wash and dress herself, do her hair, and make herself as clean and tidy as she is ?" "I do it for her." "But how do you get her down these interminable stairs ?" I asked.
"She does that herself, sitting down and going from step to step," she said, and then added, "but it is hard work for her, and it takes her a very long time." "Now tell me," I said, "have you ever had a holiday ?" "Yes, we have had one since my sister became paralysed, and we went to Herne Bay." "Did you take the bath-chair with you ?" "Of course we did; how could she go without it ?" "And you pushed her about Herne Bay, and took her on the sands in it ?" I said.