and spent a considerable part of the day in the sick man's
room. "It's sure to come right if it's above the vitals," she said,
expressing an opinion which had come from much experience. "That is,"
she added, "unless the neck's broke. When poor old Jack Stubbs drove
his head into his cap and dislocated his wertebury, of course it was
all up with him." The patient heard this and was seen to smile.

On the Tuesday there arose the question of family communication. As
the accident would make its way into the papers a message had been
sent to Polwenning to say that various bones had been broken, but
that the patient was upon the whole doing well. Then there had been
different messages backwards and forwards, in all of which there
had been an attempt to comfort old Mrs. Tregear. But on the Tuesday
letters were written. Silverbridge, sitting in his friend's room,
sent a long account of the accident to Mrs. Tregear, giving a list of
the injuries done.

"Your sister," whispered the poor fellow from his pillow.

"Yes,--yes;--yes, I will."

"And Mabel Grex." Silverbridge nodded assent and again went to the
writing-table. He did write to his sister, and in plain words told
her everything. "The doctor says he is not now in danger." Then he
added a postscript. "As long as I am here I will let you know how he
is."

CHAPTER LXIV

"I Believe Him to Be a Worthy Young Man"

Lady Mary and Mrs. Finn were alone when the tidings came from
Silverbridge. The Duke had been absent, having gone to spend an
unpleasant week in Barsetshire. Mary had taken the opportunity of his
absence to discuss her own prospects at full length. "My dear," said
Mrs. Finn, "I will not express an opinion. How can I after all that
has passed? I have told the Duke the same. I cannot be heart and hand
with either without being false to the other." But still Lady Mary
continued to talk about Tregear.

"I don't think papa has a right to treat me in this way," she said.
"He wouldn't be allowed to kill me, and this is killing me."

"While there is life there is hope," said Mrs. Finn.

"Yes; while there is life there is hope. But one doesn't want to grow
old first."

"There is no danger of that yet, Mary."

"I feel very old. What is the use of life without something to make
it sweet? I am not even allowed to hear anything that he is doing. If
he were to ask me, I think I would go away with him to-morrow."

"He would not be foolish enough for that."