I shall be so glad to be of any use to my old friend, and I am so utterly useless now." What could she say, but "yes," with a thousand thanks, far more than she could express?
So he took up his quarters at the Vicarage, and helped her in the labour of love.
The Sunday morning after he came to stay there, he was going down stairs, shortly after daybreak, to take a walk in the fresh morning air, when on the staircase he met Miss Thornton, and she, putting sixpence into his hand, said, "My dear Doctor, I looked out of window just now, and saw a tramper woman sitting on the door-step.

She has black hair and a baby, like a gipsy.

And I am so nervous about gipsies, you know.

Would you give her that and tell her to go away ?" The Doctor stepped down with the sixpence in his hand to do as he was bid.

Miss Thornton followed him.