After a time the boy came to tell me that supper was ready. He did soas if he were informing me that it was time to take medicine and hehad just taken his.

Supper awaited me in a fairly pleasant chamber, through the open windows ofwhich there came a gentle breeze which made me know that there was aflower-garden not far away. The table was a small one, round, and onit there was supper for one person. I seated myself, and the elderlywoman waited on me. I was so grateful that the boy was not myattendant that my heart warmed towards her, and I thought she mightnot consider it much out of the way if I exclaimed something.

"Did I arrive after the regular supper-time?" I asked. "I am sorry ifI put the establishment to any inconvenience."

"What's inconvenience in your own home isn't anything of the kind ina tavern," she said. "We're used to that. But it doesn't matterto-day. You're the only transient; that is, that eats here," sheadded.

I wanted fairly much to ask something about the lady whom had gone toschool in Walford, but I thought it would be well to approach thatsubject by degrees.