silent.  "  As  a  friend,  dear  Willie,  just  as

"  Good  Willie,  to  come  so  quickly  you  have  come— an  old  friend."    Miss

— I  knew  you  would."    Miss  Perfect  rerfect  spoke  low,  with  a  little  tremor

never  wept,  but  she  was  very  near  in  her  voice,  and  was,  I  believe,  near

tears  at  that  moment,  and  there  was  crying,    but    braced  her  resolution.
a  little  silence,  during  which  she  held  William  drew  near  gently  and  sat

his  hands,  and  then  recollecting  her-  down  beside  her,  and  placing  her

self,  dropt  them,  and  continued  more  hand  upon  his,  she  proceeded.
like  herself.  "  My  dear  friend  IVIiss  Drake,  there,

"  You  did  not  expect  to  see  me  up  does  not  agree  with  me  I'm  aware ;

and  here  ;  everything  happens  oddly  but  Doctor  Drake  who  has  read  more,

with  me.    Here  I  am  you  see,  appar-  and  perhaps,  thought  more,  thinks

ently,  I  dare  say,  much  as  usual,  otherwise — at  least,  so  I'm  led  to

By  half-past  twelve  o'clock,  to-morrow  suppose."

night,  I  shall  be  dead !    There,  don't  The  doctor  coughed  a  little  ;  Miss

mind  now — I'll  t^ll  you  all  by  and  Drake  raised  her  long  chin,  and  with

by.    This  is  my  friend,  Miss  Drake,  raised  eyebrows,  looked  down  on  her

you  know  her."  finger-tips  which  were  drumming  on

They  shook  hands.    Miss   Drake  the  table,  and  my  cousin  William

smiling  as  brisk  a  smile  as  in  a  scene  glanced  from  one  to  the  other,  not

60  awful  she  could  hazard.  quite  understanding  her  drift.
