The girl smiled again, and presently dropped off into an uneasy slumber with her head on Wyndham's shoulder.
By-and-bye a stout woman, with a basket on her arm, came up. She looked curiously at Wyndham. He saw at a glance that she must have walked from a long distance, and would like his seat. He beckoned her over.
"You are tired. Shall I give you my seat?"
"Eh, sir, you are kind. I have come a long way and am fair spent."
"You shall sit here, if you will let this tired girl lay her head on your breast."
"Eh, but she don't look as good as she might be!"
"Never mind. Jesus Christ would have let her put her head on His breast. Thank you, I knew you were a kind hearted woman. She will be much better near you than near me. Here is a shilling. Give it her when she wakes. Good-night."
CHAPTER L.
Esther longed to go to Acacia Villas during the week. She often felt on the point of asking Mrs. Wyndham to give her leave, but then again she felt afraid to raise suspicions; and besides her mistress was ill, and clung to her. Although Esther listened with a kind of terror on the following evening, the sound of the violin was not again heard.