s
for my concluding chapter.

CHAPTER XXI: YRAM, ON GETTING RID OF HER GUESTS, GOES TO THE PRISON TO
SEE MY FATHER

Yram did not take the advice she had given her guests, but set about
preparing a basket of the best cold dainties she could find, including a
bottle of choice wine that she knew my father would like; thus loaded she
went to the gaol, which she entered by her father's private entrance.

It was now about half-past four, so that much more must have been said
and done after luncheon at the Mayor's than ever reached my father. The
wonder is that he was able to collect so much. He, poor man, as soon as
George left him, flung himself on to the bed that was in his cell and lay
there wakeful, but not unquiet, till near the time when Yram reached the
gaol.

The old gaoler came to tell him that she had come and would be glad to
see him; much as he dreaded the meeting there was no avoiding it, and in
a few minutes Yram stood before him.

Both were agitated, but Yram betrayed less of what she felt than my
father. He could only bow his head and cover his face with his hands.
Yram said, "We are old friends; take your hands from your face and let me
see you. There! That is well."

She took his right hand between both hers, looked at him with eyes full
of kindness, and said softly--

"You are not much changed, but you look haggard, worn, and ill; I am
uneasy about you. Remember, you are among friends, who will see that no
harm befalls you. There is a look in your eyes that frightens me."

As she spoke she took the wine out of her basket, and poured him out a
glass, but rather to give him some little thing to distract his
attention, than because she expected him to drink it--which he could not
do.

She never asked him whether he found her altered, or turned the
conversation ever such a little on to herself; all was for him; to soothe
and comfort him, not in words alone, but in look, manner, and voice. My
father knew that he could thank her best by controlling himself, and
letting himself be soothed and comforted--at any rate so far as he could
seem to be.

Up to this time they had been standing, but now Yram, seeing my father
calmer, said, "Enough, let us sit down."

So saying she seated herself at one end of the small table that was in
the cell, and motioned my father to sit opposite to her. "The light
hurts you?" she said, for the sun was coming into the room. "Change
places with me, I am