forehead,

concerned that he was still feverish and his eyes too bright,
then
passed him a dry handkerchief and secured the rug about his
knees.

Glancing out of the window, she wished it was not so

depressingly dull
and extremely cold, with rain beginning to fall more heavily.
They
were to stop at the next inn for refreshments, but they could
not take
long about it, otherwise the roads would soon become rutted
because of
the rain.

They were travelling home in their own private coach after

staying in
their Aunt Mary's town house for the past week. Stephen had
gone to
London on some business for his father and, taking advantage of
the
opportunity to see Kitty, Rachel and Harry had accompanied him.

They had been unable to see her perform on the stage at Drury
Lane,
because the theatre was closed for the summer months. Unlike
most
actors who went on tour during the vacation, travelling with
companies
on regular country circuits, Kitty had chosen to stay in
London.

This had puzzled Rachel at first because her sister lived for
the
theatre and she believed she would have taken any opportunity
to
continue her profession, but eventually she accepted her
explanation
that she was perfectly happy to remain in London and work in
the fruit
shop--above which she had rooms--until the theatre reopened in
October.