On calling, and asking for Mrs. Dewey, I noticed an air
of irresolution about the servant. 'Mrs. Dewey is not well,' she
said, 'and I hardly think can see company to-day.'
"'She is not ill, I hope?' said I.
"'No, ma'am; not ill exactly, but--' and she hesitated and looked
embarrassed.
"'She will see me,' I spoke confidently. 'Take her my name, and I
will wait here in the parlor.'
"In a few minutes the girl returned and asked me to walk up stairs.
I followed her to Mrs. Dewey's room. She tapped lightly on the door,
which was opened. I passed in, and found myself alone with Delia.
She grasped my arm tightly as she shut the door and locked it,
saying as she did so, in a voice so altered from her usual tone,
that it sounded strangely in my ears--
"'Thank you, my friend, for coming so soon. I am in deep trouble,
and need a counselor as well as a comforter. I can trust you for
both.'
"I drew my arm around her, so that by act I could give more than the
assurance of words, and walked from the door with her to a lounge
between the windows, where we sat down.
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