"Well, Jane?" "Shall you let me have a new frock for it? You know I tore mine last night." "All in good time, Janey. We don't know where we may all be then." No, they did not. A foreshadowing of it was already upon the spirit of Mrs. Halliburton. Not upon the children: they were spared it as yet. "Do not be surprised if you see me waiting for you when you come out of Dr. Arnold's," said Jane to her husband, in low tones, as he was going out. "But, Jane, why? Indeed, I think it would be foolish of you to come. My dear, I never knew you like this before." Perhaps not. But when, before, had there been cause for this apprehension? Jane watched him depart. Calm as she contrived to remain outwardly, she was in a terribly restless, nervous state; little accustomed as she was so to give way. A sick feeling was within her, a miserable sensation of suspense; and she could scarcely battle with it. You may have felt the same, in the dread approach of some great calamity. The reading over, Janey got her books about, as usual. Mrs. Halliburton took charge of her education in every branch, excepting music: for that she had a master. She would not send Jane to school. The child sat down to her books, and was surprised at seeing her mother come into the room with her things on. "Mamma! Are you going out?" "For a little time, Jane." "Oh, let me go! Let me go too!" "Not this morning, dear. You will have plenty of work--preparing the lessons that you could not prepare last night." "So I shall," said Janey. "I thought perhaps you meant to excuse them, mamma." It was almost _impossible_ for Jane to remain in the house, in her present state of agitation. She knew that it did appear absurdly foolish to go after her husband; but, walk somewhere she must: how could she turn a different way from that which he had taken? It was some distance to Finsbury; half an hour's walk at least. Should she go, or should she not, she asked herself as she went out of the house. She began to think that she might have remained at home had she exercised self-control. She had a great mind to turn back, and was slackening her pace, when she caught sight of Mr. Allen at his surgery window. An impulse came over her that she would go in and ask his opinion of her husband. She opened the door and entered. The surgeon was making up some pills. "You are out early, Mrs. Halliburton!" "Yes," she replied. "Mr. Halliburton has gone to Finsbury Square to see Dr. Arnold, and I----Do you think him very ill?" she abruptly broke off. "I do not, myself. Carrington----Did you know he had been to Dr. Carrington?" asked Mr. Allen, almost fearing he might be betraying secrets. "I know all about it. I know what the doctor said. Do you think Dr. Carrington was mistaken?" "In a measure. There's no doubt the lungs are affected, but I believe not to the grave extent assumed by Dr. Carrington."