“I confess I think Godfrey is right in commenting upon your extraordinary liberality to the Burkes,” observed Mrs. Preston.

“Lucinda,” said her husband, gravely, “when my own wife deserted my sick bed, leaving me to wrestle alone with a terrible and dangerous disease, I was fortunate enough to find in Mrs. Burke a devoted nurse.  The money I have paid her is no adequate compensation, nor is it all that I intend to do for her.”

There was a part of this speech that startled Mrs. Preston.  Never before had her husband complained of her desertion of him in his sickness, and she hoped that he had been imposed upon by the excuse which she gave of saving herself for Godfrey.  Now she saw that in this she had not been altogether successful, and she regretted having referred to Mrs. Burke, and so brought this reproach upon herself.  She felt it necessary to say something in extenuation.

“It was because I wanted to live for Godfrey,” she said, with a flushed face.  “Nothing but that would have taken me away from you at such a time.  It was a great trial to me,” she continued, putting up her handkerchief to eyes that were perfectly dry.

“We will say no more about it,” said Colonel Preston, gravely.  “I shall not refer to it, unless you undervalue my obligations to Mrs. Burke.”

Mrs. Preston thought it best not to reply, but on one thing that her husband had said, she commented to Godfrey.

“Your father speaks of giving more money to Mrs. Burke.  I suppose we shall not know anything about it if he does.”

“Perhaps he will leave her some money in his will,” said Godfrey.

“Very likely.  If he does, there is such a thing as contesting a will—­that is, if he gives her much.”

Mrs. Preston was right.  Her husband did intend to give his devoted nurse something in his will, but of that more anon.  There was one thing which he did at once, and that was to buy the cottage which Mrs. Burke occupied, from the heir, a non-resident.  Mrs. Burke didn’t learn this until she went to pay her rent to the storekeeper, who had acted as agent for the owner.

“I have nothing to do with the house any longer, Mrs. Burke,” he said.

“Then who shall I pay rent to?” said Mrs. Burke.

“To Colonel Preston, who has recently bought the house.”

Mrs. Burke, therefore, called at the house of the colonel.

Mr. and Mrs. Preston were sitting together when the servant announced that she wished to speak to him.

“You seem to have a good deal of business with Mrs. Burke,” said his wife, in a very unpleasant tone.

“None that I care to conceal,” he said, smiling.  “Show Mrs. Burke in here, Jane,” he continued, addressing the servant.

“Good-morning, Mrs. Burke,” he said, pleasantly.

“Good-morning,” said Mrs. Preston, coldly.

“Good-morning, sir, I’m glad to see you looking so much better.”