is not hurt put it back again! This is the
first time, Mrs. Jazeph, that I ever knew you
do an awkward thing. You may take that
as a compliment, I think. Well, as I was
saying, this lady is the daughter of Captain
Treverton, whose dreadful shipwreck we all
read about in the papers. I knew her father
in my early days, and on that account I am
doubly anxious to be of service to her now.
Do think again. Is there nobody within
reach who can be trusted to nurse her?"

The doctor, still watching Mrs. Jazeph
with that secret medical interest of his in her
case, had seen her turn so deadly pale when
she started and looked towards him, that he
would not have been surprised if she had
fainted on the spot. He now observed that
she changed colour again when her mistress
left off speaking. The hectic red tinged her
cheeks once more with two bright spots. Her
timid eyes wandered uneasily about the room;
and her fingers, as she clasped her hands
together, interlaced themselves mechanically.
"That would be an interesting case to treat,"
thought the doctor, following every nervous
movement of the housekeeper's hands with
watchful eyes.

"Do think again," repeated Mrs. Norbury,
"I am so anxious to help this poor lady
through her difficulty, if I can."

"I am very sorry," said Mrs. Jazeph, in
faint, trembling tones, but still always with
the same sweetness in her voice, "very
sorry that I can think of no one who is fit:
but——"

She stopped. No shy child on its first
introduction to the society of strangers could
have looked more disconcerted than she
looked now. Her eyes were on the ground;
her colour was deepening; the fingers of her
clasped hands were working together faster
and faster every moment.

"But what?" asked Mrs. Norbury.

"I was about to say, ma'am." answered
Mrs. Jazeph, speaking with the greatest
difficulty and uneasiness, and never raising
her eyes to her mistress's face, "that, rather
than this lady should want for a nurse, I
would— considering the interest, ma'am,
which you take in her— I would, if you
thought you could spare me——"

"What, nurse her yourself!" exclaimed
Mrs. Norbury. " Upon my word, although
you have got to it in rather a roundabout
way, you have come to the point at last, in a
manner which does infinite credit to your
kindness of heart and your readiness to make
yourself useful. As to sparing you, of course
I am not so selfish, under the circumstances,
as to think twice of the inconvenience of
losing my housekeeper. But the question is,
are you competent as well as willing? Have
you ever had any practice in nursing?"

"Yes, ma'am," answered Mrs. Jazeph, still
without raising her eyes from the ground.
"Shortly after my marriage" (the flush
disappeared, and her face turned pale again
as she said those words), "I had some practice
in nursing, and continued it at intervals
until the time of my husband's death. I
only presume to offer myself, sir," she went
on, turning towards the doctor, and becoming
more earnest and self-possessed in her manner
as she did so; "I only presume to offer
myself, with my mistress's permission, as a
substitute for a nurse until some better
qualified person can be found."

"What do you say, Mr. Orridge?" asked
Mrs. Norbury.

It had been the doctor's turn to start
when he first heard Mrs. Jazeph propose
herself for the office of nurse. He hesitated
before he answered Mrs. Norbury's question,
then said:

"I can have but one doubt about the
propriety of thankfully accepting Mrs. Jazeph's
offer."

Mrs. Jazeph's timid eyes looked anxiously
and perplexedly at him as he spoke. Mrs.
Norbury, in her downright, abrupt way,
asked immediately what the doubt was.

"I feel some uncertainty," replied Mr.
Orridge, "as to whether Mrs. Jazeph— she
will pardon me, as a medical man, for
mentioning it— as to whether Mrs. Jazeph is
strong enough, and has her nerves sufficiently
under control to perform the duties which
she is so kindly ready to undertake."

In spite of the politeness of the explanation,
Mrs. Jazeph was evidently disconcerted
and distressed by it. A certain quiet, uncomplaining
sadness, which it was very touching
to see, overspread her face, as she turned
away without another word, and walked
slowly to the door.

"Don't go yet! " cried Mrs. Norbury,
kindly, "or, at least, if you do go, come
back again in five minutes. I am quite
certain we shall have something more to say
to you then."

Mrs. Jazeph's eyes expressed her thanks
in one grateful glance. They looked so much
brighter than usual while they rested on her
mistress's face, that Mrs. Norbury half doubted
whether the tears were not just rising in
them at that moment. Before she could look
again, Mrs. Jazeph had curtseyed to the
doctor, and had noiselessly left the room.

"Now we are alone, Mr. Orridge," said
Mrs. Norbury, "I may tell you, with all
submission to your medical judgment, that you
are a little exaggerating Mrs. Jazeph'a
nervous infirmities. She looks poorly enough
I own— but, after five years' experience of
her, I can tell you that she is stronger than
she looks, and I honestly think you will be
doing good service to Mrs. Frankland if you
try our volunteer nurse, at least, for a day or
two. She is the gentlest, tenderest creature
I ever met with, and conscientious to a fault
in the performance of any duty that she
undertakes. Don't be under any delicacy
about taking her away. I gave a dinner-party
last week, and shall not give another