Effie drew a sheet of paper toward her, scribbled a few hasty lines on it, folded it up, and left it where Agnes could see it the moment she returned; then she followed Lawson into the street. He hailed a passing hansom, and they drove straight to his rooms on the Embankment. The feeling of a dream remained with Effie all during that drive; she kept rubbing her eyes and saying to herself, "It's only a dream--I shall awaken presently and find myself back at St. Joseph's." The hansom drew up at the lodgings, and Lawson preceded Effie upstairs. He threw open the door of his little sitting room. "Come in," he said. "Here is your sister, Staunton," he sang out. Effie entered. She found herself in a small bright room. The gas was turned full on; one of the windows was open--a fresh breeze from the river came in. George was seated on a horse-hair sofa at the farthest end of the room. He held a small walking-stick in his hand, and was making imaginary patterns with it on the carpet. His shoulders were hitched up to his ears, his eyes were fixed on the ground. Effie looked at him. She said: "George, I am here--I have come." He did not make any response. She gave a little cry when he took no notice of her, and sank down helplessly on the nearest chair. Lawson strode across the room and grasped George's shoulder. "Look here, Staunton," he said; "you have got to pull yourself together. I have brought your sister here to consult what is best to be done. Look up, old chap! Take courage--all isn't lost yet. Now try and tell your sister everything." "I have nothing to tell her," said George--he raised two lackluster eyes and fixed them with a sort of dull stare on Lawson's face. "Don't talk folly--you have to tell her what you told me. You know the position you are in--you may be arrested at any moment. No one can help you but your sister; don't turn away from her." "Oh, I understand all that," said George, shrugging his shoulder out of Lawson's grip. "I know well enough what has happened--I have gone under. I'm only one more. I--I can't help it--I have nothing to say." Lawson looked at the big fellow almost in despair. He was really puzzled what to do. This was the moment, however, for Effie to take the initiative. She sprang suddenly to her feet, dashed the tears from her eyes, and went up to her brother. She fell on her knees by his side, and put her soft arms round his neck. "Think of the old days, Geordie," she said, "when we were both little children. Think of mother and father, and the little old house, and the apple tree in the garden. Don't you remember the day when that ripe red apple fell, and we ate it bite about?" When Effie began to speak, George trembled. He avoided her eyes for a moment longer, then he gave her a quick, furtive glance.