In  the  middle  of  a  large  bed,  at  the  side  of  which  was  a  little
table  bearing  a  medicine  bottle  and  a  glass,  Maggie's  head
appeared    above   the   covers,    half  hidden   in   a   network   of


88  THE  ADVENTURES

dishevelled  hair,  which  spread  itself  upon  the  pillow.  Her
face  was  thin  and  colourless,  and  her  eyes  sunken.  She  seemed
to  be  in  pain.
Johns  approached  the  bedside.
"  Oh,"  she  said,  "  I  was  going  to  ask  you  to  come  and  see
me.     Ever  since  Saturday  I  have  been  so  ill ! "

She  was  interrupted  by  a  fit  of  coughing.
"  I  caught  a  chill,  and  the  doctor  says  it's  settled  on  my
chest,  and  he  won't  say  when  I  will  be  better.  Oh,  and  things
have  been  going  bad  for  me.  Nobody  seems  to  like  me  now.
And  Mrs.  Reid  says  she  can't  keep  me  if  I  don't  pay  her,  and
I've  got  no  money,  not  a  farthing."

She  hid  her  face  in  her  pillow  and  began  to  sob.
John's  features  gave  a  nervous  twitch.  Women's  tears  made
him  feel  uncomfortable,  and  he  tried  to  find  a  few  words  of
encouragement.
"  Why,  Maggie,  what  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  worry  for  a
cold  ?  Of  course  you'll  be  better  in  a  day  or  two,  and  as  for
the  money,  my  luck's  been  better  lately,  and  I'm  going  to  make
you  a  little  present."

Saying  this,  he  thrust  his  hand  into  his  pocket,  drew  out  his
purse,  and  taking  two  sovereigns  from  it  he  placed  them  on  the
table  by  the  bedside.
