grief at the thought of his going away.  And really I was sorry, for I liked him the best of the lot, but my greeting was more with the thought of his giving me something handsome at parting than that he should take it up so serious.  But he, in his conceit, thought I was breaking my heart for the love of him, and he tried to dry my tears.  So, instead of going away that day, he stopped another week; and then when he went to Paris, I said I would go with him; and he would refuse me nothing.  So we went in separate ships, and met together in Paris; and I stopped with him at his lodgings, as is common enough in that queer town; and well I liked the place, and the sights, and the presents he gave me, and the clothes I had to put on; and he was good enough to me, though he laughed at me whiles; and many a day he called me greedy, but I aye got what I wanted out of him.

“Well, we had been three months in Paris, when he got word that his eldest brother had broke his neck when he was hunting, and that his father had taken the news so sore to heart that he was ill and not like to recover, so Harry had to go home with all speed.  I would not stop in France without him, so we both came back again, and Harry went to Cross Hall and me to my mother’s.  I was not over willing to go to her, for I knew how angry she would be at me; but Harry said it was the best place for me for the meantime, and he promised to send me money, so that I would be no burden.

“As I dreaded, my mother was terrible angry at me; but when I told her how soft Harry was, she thought he might be brought to marry me, and she set her heart on managing that by hook or by cook.  Her contrivance was, that I should pretend to be very ill, and send for him to bid me good-bye, and then she would manage the rest.  So by her advice I took to my bed and coughed very bad, and she made my cheeks look deadly white, and my lips too; and when Harry came he was shocked to see me.  His father was dead by this time, as well as his eldest brother, so his heart was especial soft, and he looked sore distressed at my being in such a bad way.

“‘Oh!  Bessie,’ says he, ’what can I do for you?  What can I get for you?’

“’’Deed it’s no much that she wants now in this world; I’m thinking we’ll lose her soon,’ said mother.

“‘No, no,’ says Harry eagerly.  ‘Let me feel your pulse, Bessie,’ says he.  Mother forgot about his being a doctor, and did not like his going about in such a skilful way; but I was so roused and excited myself that my pulse was at the gallop.  ‘Quick, but strong,’ says he; ’not the least like death.  Cheer up, Bessie,’ said he, ’it’s just a bad turn you’ve got—­a chill, perhaps, but you’ll very soon get over it.  You ought to know that you’re safe against fever at the present time.’

“‘It’s on her mind,’ said mother.  ’It’s her mind as is so disturbed.  She eats nothing, and she sleeps none for coughing, and takes such spasms at the heart.  I know she’ll never get better, and she thinks just the same; and for my part I’d rather have laid her head in the grave than let her live to be such a disgrace to us all.  To think of such a thing happening to a daughter of mine, and all through you.’