Going higher yet, till she all but reached the roof, the stair brought her to a door. She knocked. No sound of approaching footsteps followed, but after some little delay it was opened by a young woman, with a finger on her lip and a scared look in her eye. She had expected to see the doctor, and was startled to see Hester instead. There was little light where she stood, but Hester could not help feeling as if she had seen her somewhere before. She came out on the landing and shut the door behind her.

“He is very ill,” she said. “He hears a strange voice even in his sleep. It is dreadful to him.”

Her voice was not strange, and the moment she spoke it seemed to light up her face. With a pang she could scarcely account for, Hester recognized Amy Amber.

“Amy!” she said.

“Oh, Miss Raymount!” cried Amy joyfully, “is it indeed you? Have you come at last? I thought I was never to see you anymore!”

“Amy,” said Hester, “I am bewildered. How do you come to be here? I don’t understand.”

“He brought me here.”

“Who brought you here?”

“Why, miss!” exclaimed Amy, as if hearing the most unexpected of questions, “who else should it be?”

“I have not the slightest idea,” returned Hester.

But the same instant a feeling strangely mingled of alarm, discomfort, indignation, and relief crossed her mind.

Through her palour Amy turned whiter still, and then turned a little away, like a person offended.

“There is but one, miss,” she said. “Who should it be but him?”

“Speak his name,” said Hester almost sternly. “This is no time for hide-and-seek. Tell me whom you mean.”

“Are you angry with me?” faltered Amy. “Oh, Miss Raymount, I don’t think I deserve it!”

“Speak out, child! Why should I be angry with you?”

“Do you know what it is?—Oh, I hardly know what I am saying! He is dying! He is dying!”

She sank on the floor and covered her face with her hands. Hester stood a moment and looked at her weeping, her heart filled with sad dismay. Then softly and quickly she opened the door of the room and went in.

Amy jumped to her feet, but too late to prevent her, and followed trembling, afraid to speak, but relieved to find that Hester moved so noiselessly.

It was a large room, but the roof came down to the floor nearly all around. It was lighted only with a skylight. In the farthest corner was a screen. Hester crept gently toward it, and Amy after her, not attempting to stop her. She came to the screen and looked behind it. There lay a young man in a troubled sleep, his face swollen and red and blotched with the smallpox, but through the disfigurement she recognized her brother. Her eyes filled with tears. She turned away and stole out again as softly as she came in. Amy had been looking at her anxiously, and when she saw the tenderness of her look, she gathered courage and followed her. Outside, Hester stopped, and Amy again closed the door.