’Well, there’s no telling in these cases, you know.  I don’t apprehend speedy death, and it is not absolutely impossible that we may bring him round again.  At present he’s in a state of apoplectic stupor; but if that subsides, delirium is almost sure to supervene, and we shall have some painful scenes.  It’s one of those complicated cases in which the delirium is likely to be of the worst kind—­meningitis and delirium tremens together—­and we may have a good deal of trouble with him.  If Mrs. Dempster were told, I should say it would be desirable to persuade her to remain out of the house at present.  She could do no good, you know.  I’ve got nurses.’

‘Thank you,’ said Mr. Tryan.  ‘That is what I wanted to know.  Good-bye.’

When Mrs. Pettifer opened the door for Mr. Tryan, he told her in a few words what had happened, and begged her to take an opportunity of letting Mrs. Raynor know, that they might, if possible, concur in preventing a premature or sudden disclosure of the event to Janet.

‘Poor thing!’ said Mrs. Pettifer.  ’She’s not fit to hear any bad news; she’s very low this evening—­worn out with feeling; and she’s not had anything to keep her up, as she’s been used to.  She seems frightened at the thought of being tempted to take it.’

‘Thank God for it; that fear is her greatest security.’

When Mr. Tryan entered the parlour this time, Janet was again awaiting him eagerly, and her pale sad face was lighted up with a smile as she rose to meet him.  But the next moment she said, with a look of anxiety,—­’How very ill and tired you look!  You have been working so hard all day, and yet you are come to talk to me.  O, you are wearing yourself out.  I must go and ask Mrs. Pettifer to come and make you have some supper.  But this is my mother; you have not seen her before, I think.’

While Mr. Tryan was speaking to Mrs. Raynor, Janet hurried out, and he, seeing that this good-natured thoughtfulness on his behalf would help to counteract her depression, was not inclined to oppose her wish, but accepted the supper Mrs. Pettifer offered him, quietly talking the while about a clothing club he was going to establish in Paddiford, and the want of provident habits among the poor.

Presently, however, Mrs. Raynor said she must go home for an hour, to see how her little maiden was going on, and Mrs. Pettifer left the room with her to take the opportunity of telling her what had happened to Dempster.  When Janet was left alone with Mr. Tryan, she said,—­’I feel so uncertain what to do about my husband.  I am so weak—­my feelings change so from hour to hour.  This morning, when I felt so hopeful and happy, I thought I should like to go back to him, and try to make up for what has been wrong in me.  I thought, now God would help me, and I should have you to teach and advise me, and I could bear the troubles that would come.  But since then—­all this afternoon and evening—­I have had the same feelings I used to have, the same