Mangan," the old lady said. "What would my boy have done without you all
this time?"
Francie at once and obediently put on her things, and she and Maurice
went down-stairs and crossed the street and entered the Park, where they
could walk up and down the unfrequented ways and talk as they pleased.
"I suppose you will be going down to the House of Commons almost
directly?" she asked.
"Oh, no," he answered. "I've begged off. I could not think of getting to
work while Linn is so ill as that."
"Do you know what I have been thinking all day, Maurice?" she said,
gently. "When I saw you with the doctors, and when I heard of all you
have done since Saturday morning--well, I could not help thinking that
there must be something fine about Lionel to have secured him such a
friend."
He looked at her with some surprise.
"But you have been his friend--all these years!" he said.
"Ah, that's different; we were brought up together. Tell me--the Nina he
is always talking about--I suppose that is the Italian girl who was at
the theatre, and whom he knew in Naples--he used to write home about
her--"
[Illustration: "_He uttered a loud shriek, and struggled wildly to raise
himself.
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