"Then you have not been to sleep, my boy, but have kept his head bathed as I should have done."

"How is Mrs. Collins now?" asked Jack.

Mrs. Brown shook her head. "It is all over, Jack. A wasted life has come to an end; and bitterly as she repented of it at the last, there was no time left to undo even a little bit of the mischief it has caused to others as well as herself. Now you go to bed, Jack, and I will go to father. Mrs. Tate is with Polly and Jess now, and no one can do any more for them just at present."

[CHAPTER XI]

A FRIEND IN NEED

"IF you please, ma'am, may I see Fanny?"

The lady who had opened the door looked at Jack in surprised silence for a minute, and then he said—

"Fanny is my sister, ma'am!"

"Oh dear, what a pity, to be sure, that you have missed each other! How could you have managed it? I hope your father is no worse?" added the lady.

"No, ma'am, he is a good deal better to-day, thank you."