“That means that you will have to come to see me again,” she said; “is it not very difficult to come over from Guernsey?”

“Not at all,” I answered, “it is quite a treat to me.”

Her face grew very grave, as if she was thinking of some unpleasant topic.  She looked at me earnestly and questioningly.

“May I speak to you with great plainness, Dr. Martin?” she asked.

“Speak precisely what is in your mind at this moment,” I replied.

“You are very, very good to me,” she said, holding out her hand to me, “but I do not want you to come more often than is quite necessary, because I am very poor.  If I were rich,” she went on hurriedly, “I should like you to come every day—­it is so pleasant—­but I can never pay you sufficiently for that long week you were here.  So please do not visit me oftener than is quite necessary.”

My face felt hot, but I scarcely knew what to say.  I bungled out an answer: 

“I would not take any money from you, and I shall come to see you as often as I can.”

I bound up her little foot again without another word, and then sat down, pushing my chair farther from her.

“You are not offended with me, Dr. Martin?” she asked, in a pleading tone.

“No,” I answered; “but you are mistaken in supposing that a medical man has no love for his profession apart from its profits.  To see that your arm gets properly well is part of my duty, and I shall fulfil it without any thought of whether I shall get paid for it or no.”

“Now,” she said, “I must let you know how poor I am.  Will you please to fetch me my box out of my room?”

I was only too glad to obey her.  This seemed to be an opening to a complete confidence between us.  Now I came to think of it, Fortune had favored me in thus throwing us together alone.

I lifted the small, light box very easily—­there could not be many treasures in it—­and carried it back to her.  She took a key out of her pocket and unlocked it with some difficulty, but she could not raise the lid without my help.  I took care not to offer any assistance until she asked it.

Yes, there were very few possessions in that light trunk, but the first glance showed me a blue-silk dress, and seal-skin jacket and hat.  I lifted them out for her, and after them a pair of velvet slippers, soiled, as if they had been through muddy roads.  I did not utter a remark.  Beneath these lay a handsome watch and chain, a fine diamond ring, and five sovereigns lying loose in the box.

“That is all the money I have in the world,” she said, sadly.

I laid the five sovereigns in her small, white hand, and she turned them over, one after another, with a pitiful look on her face.  I felt foolish enough to cry over them myself.

“Dr. Martin,” was her unexpected question after a long pause, “do you know what became of my hair?”

“Why?” I asked, looking at her fingers running through the short curls we had left her.