Such kissing between Helen and Sophie Chalk! I thought they'd never leave off. Anna stood by Tod, while he looked on: a hungry light in his eyes, as if envying Helen the kisses she took. He had no eyes now for Anna. Lady Whitney asked if we would go upstairs to William: he was impatient to see us both. "Halloa, old Johnny!" He was lying on his back on a broad flat sofa, looking just as well as ever in the face. They had given him up the best bedroom and dressing-room because he was ill: nice rooms, both--with the door opening between. "How did it happen, Bill?" "Goodness knows! Some fellow rode his horse pretty near over mine--don't believe he had ever been astride anything but a donkey before. Where's Tod?" "Somewhere.--I thought he was close behind me." "I'm so glad you two have come. It's awfully dull, lying here all day." "Are you obliged to lie?" "Carden says so." "Do you have Carden?" "As if our folk would be satisfied without him in a surgical case, and one of danger! He was telegraphed for on the spot, and came over in less than an hour. It happened near the Ombersley station. He comes here every other day, and Featherston between whiles as his locum tenens." Tod burst in with a laugh. He had been talking to the girls in the gallery outside. Leaving him and Bill Whitney to have out their own chaffer, I went through the door to the other room--the fire there was the largest. "How do you do, sir?" Some one in a neat brown gown and close white cap, sewing at a table behind the door, had got up to say this with a curtsey. Where had I seen her?--a woman of three or four and thirty, with a meek, delicate face, and a subdued expression. She saw the puzzle. "I am Harry Lease's widow, sir. He was pointsman at South Crabb?" Why, yes, to be sure! And she was not much altered either. But it was a good while now since he died, and she and the children had moved away at the time. I shook hands: the sight of her brought poor Harry Lease to my mind--and many other things. "Are you living here?" "I have been nursing young Mr. Whitney, sir. Mr. Carden sent me over from Worcester to the place where he was lying; and my lady thought I might as well come on here with them for a bit, though he don't want more done for him now than a servant could do. What a deal you have grown, sir!" "Have I? You should see Joseph Todhetley. You knew me, though, Mrs. Lease?" "I remembered your voice, sir. Besides, I heard Miss Anna say that you were coming here."