Forrester stood by, pale and anxious.
"The mother is dead, of course?" he asked once hopelessly, and the doctor looked up for a moment to answer.
"She must have died instantly. It was heart failure!" His eyes searched the young man's agitated face.
"May I ask who you are?" he inquired, faintly amazed.
"Yes." The Beggar Man glanced down at Faith.
"She is my wife," he said, briefly.
"Your wife! That child!" The amazed words were out before the doctor could check them, and he hastened to apologize. "I beg your pardon, but she looks so young."
"She is young," said the Beggar Man, flintily. "I am nearly twenty years older than she is."
Faith was coming back to consciousness, and the doctor said hurriedly: "I think it will be better for you to go away for the present, if you will—I want her to be kept quite quiet."
Nicholas went out into the narrow passage. The twins had returned and were squabbling over an enormous bag of sticky sweets. They hailed Nicholas with delight.