She caught at his arm after trying to walk alone, and looked pitifully in his face. "You see," she whispered, "it was a dream--a dream; but so bright, and now--" She reeled, and would have fallen but for the strong arm flung round her; and Richard held her for a few moments till she recovered. "Richard," she whispered, sadly, "forgive me if I was unmaidenly and bold; but it seemed so short a time that I should be here, that I could not act as others do. But take me home--take me home." She seemed half fainting, and raised he handkerchief to her lips, to take it down stained with blood. Then, shuddering slightly, she turned her face to his, smile faintly, and laid one little thin hand upon his breast, before hanging almost inanimate upon his arm. Richard uttered a groan as he raised her in his arms, and bore her rapidly into the lane, where, at the distance of a hundred yards, stood the cab, with Batty grazing comfortably, and Sam Jenkles dozing on his box. "Taken ill--quick!" gasped Richard, as he lifted his burden into the vehicle. "Quick--London--the first doctor's." Volume 3, Chapter X. THE USE OF MONEY. That evening Frank Pratt was busily preparing himself for a City dinner, when Richard rushed panting into the room, haggard, his face covered with perspiration, and a look of despair in his eyes that frightened his friend. "Why, Dick, old man," he cried, catching his hands, "what is it?" "Money, Frank--give me money--ten--twenty--fifty pounds; doctors-- doctors. I've killed her--killed her!" he groaned. Pratt asked no questions, but unlocking a desk, he took out and placed five crisp bank notes in his friend's hand. "I knew you would," panted Richard. "God bless you, Frank! Best doctor--consumption?" "Morley, Cavendish Square," said Pratt, with sharp brevity. Then waving his hand, Richard dashed from the room; while Pratt quietly sat down, half-dressed, to think it out, which meant to light his pipe. Meanwhile his friend had rushed down, taken Sam Jenkles's cab, which was waiting, and, as he was being driven through the streets, went over the incidents of his return--how they had called on a suburban surgeon, who had administered a styptic, and ordered them to go back very gently--how Mrs Lane had met him with a look of reproachful agony in her eyes, as he lifted out the half insensible girl, and bore her upstairs; and then, as he turned to go, after laying poor Netta on the bed, she had held out her hands to him, taking his in hers, and kissing them--so unmanning him that he had sunk upon his knees by her side, and hid his face. He could hardly recall the rest--only that he had had to go to four doctors before he could find one ready to come to the shabby street; and when at last he had been brought to the poor girl's bedside, he had recommended the hospital. It was this that had sent the young man to Frank Pratt's for money, the value of which he now thoroughly realised for the first time in his life.