went in, and she had it when she came out; she had
it there under her cloak, but dissimulated, invisibly
carried, when smiling, smiling, she again faced Kate
Croy. That young lady had of course awaited her
in another room, where, as the great man was to ab
sent himself, no one else was in attendance; and she
rose for her with such a face of sympathy as might
have graced the vestibule of a dentist. " Is it out?"
she seemed to ask as if it had been a question of a
tooth; and Milly indeed kept her in no suspense
at all.

"He's a dear. I'm to come again."

"But what does he say?"

Milly was almost gay. " That I'm not to worry
about anything in the world, and that if I ll be a good
girl and do exactly what he tells me, he ll take care
of me for ever and ever."

Kate wondered as if things scarce fitted. " But
does he allow then that you re ill?"

"I don't know what he allows, and I don't care.
I shall know, and whatever it is it will be enough.
He knows all about me, and I like it. I don't hate
it a bit."

Still, however, Kate stared. " But could he, in so
few minutes, ask you enough?"

"He asked me scarcely anything he doesn't
need to do anything so stupid," Milly said. " He
can tell. He knows," she repeated; "and when I
go back for he ll have thought me over a little
it will be all right."

[[254]]

p253 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p254w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p255

v?