The doctor came in, and stood looking at his patient, after putting a few questions. "Well," said he, "you are better; you will get over it." "Do you really think so?" I asked joyfully. "Decidedly I do, now. It has been a sharp twinge, but the danger's over. You see, when pain suddenly ceases, mortification sometimes sets in, and I could not be sure. But you will do this time, Mr. Lennard." Lennard had little more to say; and, soon after the doctor left, I prepared to follow him. "There's a trifle of salary due to me, Mr. Strange," he whispered; "that which has been going on since Quarter Day. I suppose you will not keep it from me?" "Keep it from you! No. Why should I? Do you want it at once? You can have it if you do." Leonard looked up wistfully. "You do not think of taking me back again? You will not do that?" "Yes, I will. You and I shall understand each other better than ever now." The tears welled up to his eyes. He laid his other hand--I had taken one--across his face. I bent over him with a whisper. "What has passed to-night need never be recurred to between us; and I shall never speak of it to another. We all have our trials and troubles, Lennard. A very weighty one is lying now upon me, though it is not absolutely my own--_brought_ upon me, you see, as yours was. And it is worse than yours." "Worse!" he exclaimed, looking at me. "More dangerous in its possible consequences. Now mind," I broke off, shaking him by the hand, "you are not to attempt to come to Essex Street until you are quite strong enough for it. But I shall see you here again on Monday, for I have two or three questions to ask you as to some of the matters that have transpired during my absence. Good-night, Lennard; keep up a good heart; you will outlive your trials yet." And when I left him he was fairly sobbing. CHAPTER VI. DANGER. Mrs. Brightman was certainly improving. When I reached her house with Annabel on the following day, Sunday, between one and two o'clock, she was bright and cheerful, and came towards the entrance-gates to meet us. She, moreover, displayed interest in all we told her of our honeymoon in the Isle of Wight, and of the places we had visited. Besides that, I noticed that she took water with her dinner. "If she'll only keep to it," said Hatch, joining me in her unceremonious fashion as I strolled in the garden later, smoking a cigar. "Yes, Mr. Charles, she's trying hard to put bad habits away from her, and I hope she'll be able to do it." "I hope and trust she will!" "Miss Brightman went back to Hastings the day after the wedding-day," continued Hatch; "but before she started she had a long interview with my mistress, they two shut up in missis's bedroom alone. For pretty nigh all the rest of the day, my missis was in tears, and she has not touched nothing strong since." "Nothing at all!" I cried in surprise, for it seemed too good to be true. "Why, that's a fortnight ago! More than a fortnight."