He caught up a little china mug from a side table, and ran out, nearly upsetting Mrs Sturt on the landing and Barney at the foot of the stairs, to return at the end of a few minutes, and find the passage vacant; so he hastily ran up, to see that Mrs Lane had come to in his absence, though she looked deadly pale. "Here, mum," he said, earnestly, "drink this; don't be afeard, it's port wine. A drop wouldn't do you no harm neither, Miss," he added, as he glanced at the pale, thin face and delicate aspect of the girl. Mrs Lane put the mug to her lips, and then made an effort, and sat up. "You was hurt, then, mum?" said the cabman, anxiously. "Only shaken--frightened," she said, in a feeble voice. "And my coming brought it all up again, and upset you. It's jest like me, mum, I'm allus a-doing something; ask my missus if I ain't." "It did startle me," said Mrs Lane, recovering herself. "But you wished to see me. I am better now, Netta," she said to the girl, who clung to her. "Place a chair." "No, no, arter you, Miss," said the cabman; "I'm nobody;" and he persisted in standing. "'Scuse me, but I knows a real lady when I sees one; I'll stand, thanky. You see, it was like this: I saw Tommy Runce on the stand--him, you know, as brought you home from the front of the club there--and I ast him, and he told me where he brought you. And when I was talking to the missus last night, she says, says she, `Well, Sam,' she says, `the least you can do is to drive up and see how the poor woman is, even if you lose half a day.' `Well,' I says, `that's just what I was a thinking,' I says, `only I wanted to hear you say it too.' So you see, mum, thinking it was only decent like, I made bold to come and tell you how sorry I am, and how it was all Ratty's fault; for he's that beast of a horse--begging your pardon, mum, and yours too, Miss--as it's impossible to drive. He oughter ha' been called Gunpowder, for you never know when he's going off." "It was _very_ kind and very thoughtful of you, and--and your wife," said Mrs Lane; "and indeed I thank you; but I was not hurt, only shaken." "Then it shook all the colour outer your face, mum, and outer yours too, Miss," he said, awkwardly. "You'll excuse me, but you look as if you wanted a ride every day out in the country." As he spoke, the girl glanced at a bundle of violets in a broken glass of water in the window; then the tears gathered in her eyes. She seemed to struggle for a moment against her emotion, and then started up and burst into a passion of weeping. "My darling!" whispered Mrs Lane, catching her in her arms, and trying to soothe her, "pray--pray don't give way." "I've done it again," muttered Jenkles--"I'm allus a-doing it--it is my natur' to."