It was not until about a week afterwards that I observed a change in Comtesse Riki. She was very pale, and coughed now and then. She no longer took interest in her work, and often sat for a long time pensive and melancholy, her eyes fixed on my face. One bitterly cold day I found her alone in the _salon_, where we seldom sat; for although there was what was called central heating all over the house, it was not often put on to any great extent in the _salon_. Riki had flung herself into a chair which was the reverse of comfortable. She started up when she saw me. "Oh, you will sympathise with me in my trouble!" "What is the matter?" I asked. "If we might go for a little walk together." "But why so?" I asked. "You are not fit to go out to-day, it is so cold." "But the cold will revive me. Feel my hand; my pulse beats so fast." I took her hand; her little pulse was bounding in her slender wrist. "I am sure you ought not to go out; indeed, you can't." She looked up at me imploringly. Suddenly she burst out crying. "Oh Riki," I said, "what is the matter?" "If you don't help me I shall be the most miserable girl in all the world," she said. "And it is all your fault, too." "My fault?" I cried. "Why, Riki, you must be mad. Whatever have I done?" "Well, you have told me about your so wonderful English customs, and I have been taking them to my heart; and there is Heinrich--" "Who is Heinrich--your brother?" She stared at me, but made no reply. "He was the person you wrote to, was he not?" "Oh, hush, hush! Raise not your voice to that point; some one may come in and hear." "And why should not people hear? I must say English girls have secrets, but not that sort," I said, with great indignation. "You are so bitter and so proud," she said; "but you know not the heart-hunger." "Oh yes, I do!" I answered. I was thinking of my mother and her miniature, and the fading image of that loved memory in the old home. I also thought of the new step-mother. Yes, yes, I knew what heart-hunger was. My tone changed to one of pity. "I have felt it," I said. "Oh, then, you have had your beloved one?" "Indeed, yes." "Did I not say that of all the school it was natural I should select you to be to me a companion?" "Can I help you?" I said. "You can. Will you, as I am not allowed to go out, take this and put it into a letter-box?" "But I cannot make out why there should be any trouble." "It is so easy, and Heinrich--the poor, the sad, the inconsolable--wants to get it at once." Again I was a remarkably silly girl; but I took Riki's letter and posted it for her. She devoured me with kisses, and immediately recovered her spirits. The next day she was better and able to go out, and when she returned home she presented me with a magnificent box of French bonbons. Now, I was exceedingly partial to those sweets. Riki often came into our little sitting-room, and all the girls began to remark on our friendship.