"
The young man leaned his head upon his folded arms and nothing
stirred in the room, but the wind that stole in through the roses to
fan the placid face upon the pillow.
"Are you weary waiting for me, Jamie dear? I could not come before;"
and as her eager voice broke the silence, Sister Bess came hastening
in.
The stranger, looking up, saw a young girl regarding him from
Jamie's close embrace, with a face whose only beauty was the light
her brother spoke of, that beamed warm and bright from her mild
countenance and made the poor room fairer for its presence.
"This is Bess, my Bess, sir," cried the boy, "and she will thank you
for your kindness in sitting here so long with me."
"I am the person who lodges just below you; I mistook this room for
my own; pardon me, and let me come again, for Jamie has already done
me good," replied the stranger as he rose to go.
"Bess, dear, will you bring me a cup of water?" Jamie said; and as
she hastened away, he beckoned his friend nearer, saying with a
timid wistful look,--
"Forgive me, if it's wrong, but I wish you would let me give you
this; it's very little, but it may help some; and I think you'll
take it to please 'poor Jamie.' Won't you, sir?" and as he spoke,
the child offered a bright coin, the proceeds of his work.
Tears sprung into the proud man's eyes; he held the little wasted
hand fast in his own a moment, saying seriously,--
"I _will_ take it, Jamie, as a loan wherewith to begin anew the life
I was about to fling away as readily as I do this;" and with a quick
motion he sent a vial whirling down into the street.
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