She had almost forgotten little Nellie whom she had left in the drawing-room.

She had told the child, when she went back to her, leaving Goddard alone in the dark, that the man was a poor starving tramp, but that she did not want Nellie to see him, because he looked so miserable.

She would give him something to eat and send him away, she said, and meanwhile Nellie should sit by the drawing-room fire and wait for her.

The child trusted her mother implicitly and was completely reassured.

Mrs.Goddard dried her eyes, and re-entered the room.