catching sight of a figure standing by the door, "Who's there?"
"Me—only me," replied a tremulous voice.
Oliver raised the candle above his head, and looked towards the door. It was Nancy.
"Put down the light," said the girl, turning away her head: "it hurts my eyes."
Oliver saw that she was very pale, and gently inquired if she were ill. The girl threw herself into a chair, with her back towards him, and wrung her hands; but made no reply.
"God forgive me!" she cried after a while, "I never thought of all this."
"Has any thing happened?" asked Oliver. "Can I help you? I will if I can. I will indeed."
She rocked herself to and fro, caught her throat, and, uttering a gurgling sound, struggled, and gasped for breath.
"Nancy!" cried Oliver, greatly alarmed. "What is it?"
The girl beat her hands upon her knees, and her feet upon the ground, and, suddenly stop-
