“Can I not induce you to grant my request? Little Piers called out for me when I went to the door just now—he heard my voice. Is not happiness good for sick people? Is not happiness, and a little bit of their own way, quite as valuable as your most potent drugs? Oh, I believe such to be the case—I am sure I am right. Dr. Tarbot, do allow me to have my wish. It cannot possibly injure Piers for me to sit with him, and I am always quiet and never excitable. It would make him happy! Please grant my desire.” While Barbara spoke, the eager light in her eyes, the tremulous movement of her beautiful lips, her young figure all alive with the sympathy and longing which filled her soul, brought to Tarbot a moment of mad brief temptation. His own eyes glittered. He came close to the girl. “You want this favor badly?” he asked. “Yes.” “If I grant it, will you do something for me?” “Need you ask?” “I will grant your wish on a condition.” Tarbot’s face grew white. He came still closer to Barbara. “Well?” she asked impatiently. “If I allow you to sit with little Piers to-night will you—_kiss me_?” Barbara staggered and caught a chair to steady herself. “An hour ago I thought you a good man,” she said at last slowly. “I was mistaken. I cannot sit with Piers on those terms. Good night.” Tarbot quickly recovered himself. “Forgive me! Forgive me!” he cried. “I was mad for a moment. It is your fault. Why are you so beautiful, so lovable? Oh, Barbara, you could have made a good man of me, and now I am”—he breathed the words low—“a devil! But forgive me. Come, I will go back with you. You shall have your wish. I grant it without any condition. I will accompany you to Ashley Mansions and take you into the sick-room.” Barbara said nothing. Her first impulse was to go straight home to her mother, but thoughts of Piers and of the benefit she might do him caused her to change her mind. She walked quickly back to Ashley Mansions with the surgeon, neither of them speaking a word. Mrs. Pelham was waiting by the drawing-room door. “It is all right,” said Barbara, nodding to her. “Dr. Tarbot will allow me to stay with Piers to-night.” “Thank God!” answered Mrs. Pelham. “I am greatly obliged to you, doctor, for this. Barbara, dear, Dick is up-stairs. He arrived almost immediately after you left. There seems to be some commotion in the sick-room. I heard steps hurrying about, but I am too frightened to go and inquire. Go and tell me quickly if anything is wrong.” Barbara nodded, and the girl and the doctor went up-stairs. When they reached the threshold of the room Tarbot turned and looked full at Barbara. “Say that you forgive the impulse which came over me half an hour ago.” Barbara hesitated; then her words came out, very low. “I will—try.” “Come this way.” Tarbot opened the door. The two passed beyond the screen. The room was no longer dark—it was lit up with brilliance.