"That will be a fine combination for charity's sake," he replied, enthusiastically.
"I knew you would enter into the scheme. How good you are!" she said, with a feeble effort to express her gratitude for him in a smile.
"I am afraid you flatter me, Miss Jarney," he answered, still holding her trembling hand.
"Oh, no; papa says you are so good; and I know you are."
"What time Sunday shall we go, Miss Barton?" asked John, turning to that young lady, with increasing enthusiasm over his accumulating duties.
"About ten o'clock, perhaps. You call here at that hour, when the auto will be in waiting for us," answered Star, sitting by him, with as much interest in him as Edith had herself.
"I shall be prompt to the minute," he replied.
John had remained an hour by Edith's bed talking in very confidential terms to those two divine maidens—one of them rich, one of them poor, but both blessed with many heavenly virtues. Edith was growing restless; although through it all John had been careful of what he said, and how he said it, so as not to excite her.
"Are you going?" she asked, seeing him rise. "I am sorry I cannot withstand the strain longer."
"I should go," he answered.