Sam heard these words without understanding them, but felt immediately inclined to think that Mrs Shelf was a very good sort. Accordingly, that very same evening Mrs Shelf and Sam Freeman went up to London by the very train which had taken Annie the night before. When they reached London, however, Mrs Shelf bade her companion good-bye. "I will never cease to thank you as long as I live," she said; "and if our Annie, our bit lamb, gets better, you will hear from me." "I won't wait for that ma'am," said Sam. "I'll call every day at the 'ospital to inquire. I can't say no more; there's naught I wouldn't do for her, ma'am." He hurried away, his great shock head towering above most of his fellow-men. Mrs Shelf sighed heavily. At Paddington she got into a four-wheeler and drove straight to the hotel where she knew John Saxon was staying. He was out. She sat down patiently to wait for him. It was past midnight before he returned. What was his amazement to see the worthy, homely face of Mrs Shelf as she rose from her seat in a corner of the hall of the hotel! "I have no news for you," he said. "My good soul, why did you come to town? Now this only adds to our complications. I have spent a fearful day, and have put detectives on poor Annie's track, but up to the present we have heard nothing." "Then I have news for you, Mr John. You don't suppose I'd come all the way to London for nothing." And the good woman repeated the astounding intelligence which Sam Freeman had brought her. "A message from the child herself," she said; "and you can guess from its tone, sir, and the words she used, how bad our poor Annie must be. Oh, may God spare her, and save her life!" "Spare her and change her!" murmured John Saxon. "With God all things are possible. I will go at once to the hospital," he said. "And you will take me with you, sir?" "Yes, if you like; but I don't think we can be admitted at this hour." "Oh, sir! I couldn't stay away. We must at least have a good try. Haven't I nursed her since she was a little thing--she, who all her days was really motherless?" "All right," said Saxon. "We will go at once." The porter who answered their summons at the great hospital went away immediately to get news with regard to Annie Brooke. This was the reverse of reassuring. She was very ill, quite delirious, and could not possibly be seen until the following morning. "Then I will wait here," said Mrs Shelf, settling herself down determinedly. "You can't put me, a woman of my years, into the street. I will go to her when the day breaks."