Page:The Rejuvenation Of Miss Semaphore.pdf/180

 CHAPTER XVIII.

A DETECTIVE ON THE TRACK.

Boarding-house life tends to make one selfish; "each for himself and God for us all," is the boarders' motto. Where people come and go, drifting in and out like weeds upon the tide, deep interests or affections are rare, but even in boarding-houses men are sometimes thoughtful, and women sympathetic. This is especially true in cases of illness. The medical lady and Mrs. Dumaresq rushed to the assistance of Prudence when she stumbled off the sofa in a dead faint. She was conveyed to her room, smelling-salts, strong brandy-and-water from Major Jones' private store, burnt feathers, and other powerful but unpleasant remedies were applied until she opened her eyes and gasped:

"Where am I? What has happened?"

Before anyone could answer, memory