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 gown with short sleeves and white cuffs, and a little pink silk half-handkerchief tied either round her throat or under her chin—she did not exactly know which, but all reduced heroines wore pink silk handkerchiefs, it was de rigueur, after any loss of fortune. Lord Teviot would not of course object to the accustomed suit of velveteen.

No, he had an old shooting jacket, which would do well enough on ploughing days; but he did not think that at the worst they should be reduced to those extreme straits. Perhaps Helen could sketch out a life for them a few grades above that.

"Oh yes, dear, with the greatest ease. You would not like to keep a shop?"

"Not at all, thank you."

"Nor I. Could we afford to rent this dear little Laurel Cottage, Teviot?" He nodded. "Oh! then nothing can be pleasanter than our prospects. I shall take care of you till you are strong, and walk with you, and we can occasionally afford ourselves a drive in a gig. Phillips does already the work of butler, valet, and footman; and as for Tomkinson, no maid-of-all-work could have worked harder than she has during your illness. Seriously, Teviot, it is very easy to find fault with servants, and to be always abusing them, as most of us do, but when illness or anxiety comes, how kind and thoughtful they are! Those two have been indefatigable in their care of you, keeping the house quiet, running for doctors at all hours, inventing extempore meals; in short, acting like friends."

"Yes," said Lord Teviot, "I have observed them; Phillips has been my servant ever since I left school, and I knew his merits; but your little fly-away maid, with her curls and graces, has quite astonished me. She is so staid and thoughtful, and the little woman actually cried when she attempted to make me a congratulatory speech the day I came into this room. Of course we must make them