"I shall go to him, of course. I must go at once."
"I will come with you," cried Juliet.
"My dear child, that is out of the question. With such a cold on your chest, I would not have you go out for the world."
"Really, Juliet, you seem to have no common-sense!" exclaimed Hannah.
Juliet flashed an angry glance at her sister, but forbore to urge her proposal.
"I shall accompany you, mother," said Hannah, in her calm, deliberate manner. "It is not fit you should go alone. Already it is dark."
"Oh, thank you, dear," said her mother gratefully. It was good in moments of agitation and uncertainty to lean upon Hannah's strong, practical sense.
They went away to get ready, and Juliet sank on to a chair, coughing with renewed violence. She was really distressed to think that the kind old man whom she had learned to love, whilst laughing at his foibles, should be so ill.
After a little while, Salome slipped out of the room, and went upstairs to exchange a few words with Hannah in private ere she quitted the house.
"Shall you tell mother what Mrs. Hayes told us?" she inquired, with some eagerness.