"This is Miss Johnson," Mrs. Worthington said, as Alice drew near, her
pallor giving place to a bright flush.
"I fancy I am to a certain degree indebted to Miss Johnson for my life,"
Hugh said. "I was not wholly unconscious of your presence," he
continued, still holding her hand. "There were moments when I had a
vague idea of somebody different from those I have always known bending
over me, and I fancied, too, that this somebody was sent to save me from
some great evil. I am glad you were here, Miss Johnson; I shall not
forget your kindness."
He dropped her hand then, while Alice attempted to stammer out some
reply.
"Adah, too, had been kind," she said, "quite as kind as herself."
"Yes, Hugh knew that Adah was a dear, good girl. He was glad they liked
each other."
Alice thought of Terrace Hill, but this was hardly the time to worry
Hugh with that, so she sat silent a while, until Mrs. Worthington,
growing very fidgety and very anxious to have the money matter adjusted,
said abruptly: "You must not be angry, Hugh. I asked Alice what that watch was worth,
and somehow the story of the lost bracelet came out, and--and--she--Alice
would not let me sell the watch. Don't look so black, Hugh, don't--oh,
Miss Johnson, you must pacify him," and in terror poor Mrs. Worthington
fled from the room, leaving Alice and Hugh alone.
"My mother told you of our difficulties! Has she no discretion, no
sense?" and Hugh's face grew dark with the wrath he dared not manifest
with Alice's eyes upon him.
"Mr. Worthington," she said, "you have thanked me for caring for you
when you were sick. You have expressed a wish to return in some way
what you were pleased to call a kindness. There is a way, a favor you
can grant me, a favor we women prize so highly; will you grant it? Will
you let me do as I please? that's the favor."
She looked a very queen born to be obeyed as she talked thus to Hugh.
She did not make him feel small or mean, only submissive, while her
kindness touched a tender chord, which could not vibrate unseen. Hugh
was very weak, very nervous, too, and turning his head away so that she
could not see his face, he let the hot tears drop upon his pillow;
slowly at first they came, but gradually as everything--his embarrassed
condition, Rocket's loss, 'Lina's selfishness, and Alice's generosity,
came rushing over him--they fell in perfect torrents, and Alice felt a
keen pang of pity, as sob after sob smote upon her ear, and she knew the
shame it must be to him thus to give away before her.