The young girl sat down upon the stairs and buried her face in her hands, while Marshall stood silently and reverently by her side praying for her in his heart. Every now and then he could hear Matthew Reardon coughing in the room above; and then the little children began to sing a hymn, while the ceaseless hum and tread of human life went on in the busy street without.
Presently a footstep approached, descending the stairs from one of the upper rooms, and Kate arose quickly, pushing back the bright hair which had fallen over her face, and glancing round with a startled look.
"You won't go out any more to-night?" said Marshall, laying his hand on her thin, damp shawl.
"No," answered Kate, dreamily. "I don't think I'll go out any more. Thank you for bringing the message."
Marshall took a card from his pocket and gave it to her. "This is my address," said he. "If you should want a friend at any time—you won't lose it?"
"No fear of that, sir; I haven't so many friends that I can afford to lose one."
At that moment, an elderly woman appeared in sight. She walked slowly in consequence of being somewhat lame, and glanced curiously from one to the other.
Kate nodded to her, and ran upstairs without even wishing the old clerk good night.
"Were you wanting anything, sir?" asked the woman.
"All right, thank you," replied Marshall. "I know my way."