Page:Coo-ee - tales of Australian life by Australian ladies.djvu/301

 THE TRAGEDY IN A STUDIO. 297

Darkness had fallen like a pall by the time we reached our destination. I felt unutterably weary, physically worn out, and almost fell prone on the threshold as I dismounted. Young Alston said something about looking after the horses, and handed me over to a grave, elderly serving-woman who had come forward, and ushered me into the house. ' You must not expect to see the master/ she said ; must eat, young lady, and I daresay you will be glad afterwards of rest. You must be faint and very tired. I will bring you some refreshment here.' She removed my hat, bathed my face and hands, and even took off my habit body, replacing it by a white dressing -jacket which she threw over my shoulders. I submitted without a word to her kind ministrations, and she waited upon me where I sat, drawing up a table by the side of the chair, on which she set a cold repast. ' You are very kind,' I said at last, when a little restored by the wine and bread and fruit of which I had partaken (I could eat nothing else), 'and I think I would like to go to bed directly.' It was a bedroom into which she had brought me. She pointed to a little slip of a dressing-room partitioned off it. ' I am sleeping there, and shall be within call of you, Miss Challis. I am Lily's old nurse.' Great tears welled up into her eyes and trickled
 * he will not leave the child to - night. But you