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bare white walls were broken by an iron grate； and she thought as she
went along that the place was something like a prison。 The arched door
of the lady's room； or cell； was not quite shut。 After knocking at it
two or three times without receiving an answer； she pushed it gently
open； and looked in。
The lady lay with closed eyes on the outside of the bed； protected from
the cold by the blankets and wrappers with which she had been covered
when she revived from her fainting fit。 A dull light placed in the deep
recess of the window； made little impression on the arched room。 The
visitor timidly stepped to the bed； and said； in a soft whisper； 'Are
you better？'
The lady had fallen into a slumber； and the whisper was too low to awake
her。 Her visitor； standing quite still； looked at her attentively。
'She is very pretty；' she said to herself。 'I never saw so beautiful a
face。 O how unlike me！'
It was a curious thing to say； but it had some hidden meaning； for it
filled her eyes with tears。
'I know I must be right。 I know he spoke of her that evening。 I could
very easily be wrong on any other subject； but not on this； not on
this！'
With a quiet and tender hand she put aside a straying fold of the
sleeper's hair； and then touched the hand that lay outside the covering。
'I like to look at her；' she breathed to herself。 'I like to see what
has affected him so much。'
She had not withdrawn her hand； when the sleeper opened her eyes and
started。
'Pray don't be alarmed。 I am only one of the travellers from
down…stairs。 I came to ask if you were better； and if I could do
anything for you。'
'I think you have already been so kind as to send your servants to my
assistance？'
'No； not I； that was my sister。 Are you better？'
'Much better。 It is only a slight bruise； and has been well looked to；
and is almost easy now。 It made me giddy and faint in a moment。 It had
hurt me before； but at last it overpowered me all at once。' 'May I stay
with you until some one es？ Would you like it？'
'I should like it； for it is lonely here； but I am afraid you will feel
the cold too much。'
'I don't mind cold。 I am not delicate； if I look so。' She quickly moved
one of the two rough chairs to the bedside； and sat down。 The other as
quickly moved a part of some travelling wrapper from herself； and drew
it over her； so that her arm； in keeping it about her； rested on her
shoulder。
'You have so much the air of a kind nurse；' said the lady； smiling on
her； 'that you seem as if you had e to me from home。'
'I am very glad of it。'
'I was dreaming of home when I woke just now。 Of my old home； I mean；
before I was married。'
'And before you were so far away from it。'
'I have been much farther away from it than this； but then I took
the best part of it with me； and missed nothing。 I felt solitary as I
dropped asleep here； and； missing it a little； wandered back to it。'
There was a sorrowfully affectionate and regretful sound in her voice；
which made her visitor refrain from looking at her for the moment。
'It is a curious chance which at last brings us together； under this
covering in which you have wrapped me；' said the visitor after a
pause；'for do you know； I think I have been looking for you some time。'
'Looking for me？'
'I believe I have a little note here； which I was to give to you
whenever I found you。 This is it。 Unless I greatly mistake； it is
addressed to you？ Is it not？'
The lady took it； and said yes； and read it。 Her visitor watched her as
she did so。 It was very short。 She flushed a little as she put her lips
to her visitor's cheek； and pressed her hand。
'The dear young friend to whom he presents me； may be a fort to me
at some time； he says。 She is truly a fort to me the first time I see
her。'
'Perhaps you don't；' said the visitor； hesitating……'perhaps you don't
know my story？ Perhaps he never told you my story？'
'No。'
'Oh no； why should he！ I have scarcely the right to tell it myself at
present； because I have been entreated not to do so。 There is not much
in it； but it might account to you for my asking you not to say anything
about the letter here。 You saw my family with me； perhaps？ Some of
them……I only say this to you……are a little proud； a little prejudiced。'
'You shall take it back again；' said the other； 'and then my husband is
sure not to see it。 He might see it and speak of it； otherwise； by some
accident。 Will you put it in your bosom again； to be certain？'
She did so with great care。 Her small； slight hand was still upon the
letter； when they heard some one in the gallery outside。
'I promised；' said the visitor； rising； 'that I would write to him after
seeing you （I could hardly fail to see you sooner or later）； and tell
him if you were well and happy。 I had better say you were well and
happy。'
'Yes； yes； yes！ Say I was very well and very happy。 And that I thanked
him affectionately； and would never forget him。'
'I shall see you in the morning。 After that we are sure to meet again
before very long。 Good night！'
'Good night。 Thank you； thank you。 Good night； my dear！'
Both of them were hurried and fluttered as they exchanged this parting；
and as the visitor came out of the door。 She had expected to meet the
lady's husband approaching it； but the person in the gallery was not
he： it was the traveller who had wiped the wine…drops from his moustache
with the piece of bread。 When he heard the step behind him； he turned
round……for he was walking away in the dark。 His politeness； which
was extreme； would not allow of the young lady's lighting herself
down…stairs； or going down alone。 He took her lamp； held it so as to
throw the best light on the stone steps； and followed her all the way
to the supper…room。 She went down； not easily hiding how much she was
inclined to shrink and tremble； for the appearance of this traveller was
particularly disagreeable to her。 She had sat in her quiet corner before
supper imagining what he would have been in the scenes and places within
her experience； until he inspired her with an aversion that made him
little less than terrific。
He followed her down wit