’Now help me to lift him, good friend—­but be very gentle; he lives, he speaks, but he is deadly weak;’ and with infinite care she and Harry lifted out a poor shrunken figure that seemed light as an infant in their arms; and I leading the way they brought it in and laid it on the couch I had got ready; there Althea, sitting down, drew Andrew’s head on to her bosom, supporting him with her arms, and murmuring tender words in his ear.  Harry stayed to speak a word to Will before he drove off, and then returning he stood by me a moment and gazed with me at those two; ’twas a sight to chain one’s eyes fast, to see Althea’s face, still heavenly fair in spite of her anguish, bending over Andrew’s, which was livid in colour, all but fleshless, and the eyes deep sunk in their sockets; yet he smiled, a smile full of a strange radiance; and he moved his colourless lips, saying something which Althea bent her head very low to hear; then looking up wildly and seeing Harry,—­

‘Have you brought a physician?’ she cried; ’there is no time to lose—­he is dying for lack of help.’

‘That he shall not,’ said Harry, who was now knelt beside Andrew, and offering a cordial to his lips; ’here is no disease but hunger, dear lady—­I have learnt by sharp experience how to minister to that;’ and in two hasty words he bade me go and warm some broth, of which luckily I had told him; so I went quickly.

Now when I came back I saw there was more company in the room; for Will had come in, and with him a man and woman; but I did not note them much, for it seemed to me that Andrew was swooning, his eyes being closed.  But Harry took the broth from me and began to feed Andrew with it; and at the warm scent of the food he revived a little.  It charmed me to see the tender skill which my Harry showed in his ministerings.  As I stood looking on, the woman came up to me, and with a sort of simple grace let me know who she was; ’twas Mary, the wife of Ned Giles, the seaman, and the man with her was Giles himself.

‘You will forgive us, madam,’ she said, ’for thrusting our company on you unbidden; it’s for love of this your kinsman we come, Mr. Truelocke having sent us word we could be useful about him.’

‘Kay,’ I said, ’never ask forgiveness for such goodness; do you know this house is reputed to be infected?’ but she said, smiling,—­

’Madam, I who was all but dead of the Plague not long since have little fear of it left.’

While she spoke I saw that Harry was urging something on Althea, who was still sitting at Andrew’s head; she answered at last, ’As you will.  I may not gainsay you;’ and yielded up her place to that good woman, who came eagerly to take it when Harry called her.

‘Now go and rest awhile till we call you—­you have need,’ Harry said to us; but Althea, as if she heard him not, stood looking down on Andrew and his nurse.

‘Does God forget His own?’ she muttered; ’is this the reward of His servants? chains, cruelty, starvation?’