‘He had the prior claim,’ said she.

‘What! you knew him at that time?’

‘Yes, yes!  Please say no more,’ she implored.

‘Whatever my errors, I have paid for them during the last five years!’

The heart of Darton was subject to sudden overflowings.  He was kind to a fault.  ‘I am sorry from my soul,’ he said, involuntarily approaching her.  Helena withdrew a step or two, at which he became conscious of his movement, and quickly took his former place.  Here he stood without speaking, and the little kettle began to sing.

‘Well, you might have been my wife if you had chosen,’ he said at last.  ’But that’s all past and gone.  However, if you are in any trouble or poverty I shall be glad to be of service, and as your relation by marriage I shall have a right to be.  Does your uncle know of your distress?’

’My uncle is dead.  He left me without a farthing.  And now we have two children to maintain.’

‘What, left you nothing?  How could he be so cruel as that?’

‘I disgraced myself in his eyes.’

‘Now,’ said Darton earnestly, ’let me take care of the children, at least while you are so unsettled.  You belong to another, so I cannot take care of you.’

‘Yes you can,’ said a voice; and suddenly a third figure stood beside them.  It was Sally.  ‘You can, since you seem to wish to?’ she repeated.  ‘She no longer belongs to another . . .  My poor brother is dead!’

Her face was red, her eyes sparkled, and all the woman came to the front.  ‘I have heard it!’ she went on to him passionately.  ’You can protect her now as well as the children!’ She turned then to her agitated sister-in-law.  ‘I heard something,’ said Sally (in a gentle murmur, differing much from her previous passionate words), ’and I went into his room.  It must have been the moment you left.  He went off so quickly, and weakly, and it was so unexpected, that I couldn’t leave even to call you.’

Darton was just able to gather from the confused discourse which followed that, during his sleep by the fire, this brother whom he had never seen had become worse; and that during Helena’s absence for water the end had unexpectedly come.  The two young women hastened upstairs, and he was again left alone.

* * * * *

After standing there a short time he went to the front door and looked out; till, softly closing it behind him, he advanced and stood under the large sycamore-tree.  The stars were flickering coldly, and the dampness which had just descended upon the earth in rain now sent up a chill from it.  Darton was in a strange position, and he felt it.  The unexpected appearance, in deep poverty, of Helena—­a young lady, daughter of a deceased naval officer, who had been brought up by her uncle, a solicitor, and had refused Darton in marriage years ago—­the passionate, almost angry demeanour of Sally at discovering them, the abrupt announcement that Helena was a widow; all this coming together was a conjuncture difficult to cope with in a moment, and made him question whether he ought to leave the house or offer assistance.  But for Sally’s manner he would unhesitatingly have done the latter.