ogether.

When they reached the other side of the bridge, and stood under the
thorn-hedge fronting the leafless elms, Devereux was irresolute.

'Would you wish _me_ to enquire?' asked Puddock. Devereux held him
doubtfully by the arm for a moment or two, and then said gently--

'No, I thank you, Puddock--I'll go--yes--I'll go myself;' and so Captain
Devereux went up to the door.

John Tracy, at the steps, told him that he thought his master wished to
speak with him; but he was not quite sure. The tall muffled figure
therefore waited at the door while John went in to tell his master, and
soon returned to say that Doctor Walsingham would be much obliged to him
to step into the study.

When the doctor saw Devereux, he stood up to meet him.

'I hope, Sir,' said Devereux, very humbly, 'you have forgiven me.'

The doctor took his hand and shook it very hard, and said, 'There's
nothing--we're both in sorrow. Everyone--everyone is sorry, Sir, but you
more.'

Devereux did not say anything, being moved, as I suppose. But he had
drawn his cloak about his face, and was looking down.

'There was a little message--only a word or two,' said the doctor; 'but
everything of hers is sacred.'

He turned over some papers in his desk, and chose one. It was in Lily's
pretty handwriting.

'I am charged with this little message. Oh, my darling!' and the old man
cried bitterly.

'Pray, read it--you will understand it--'tis easily read. What a pretty
hand it was!'

So Devereux took the little paper, and read just the words which
follow:--

'My beloved father will, I hope, if he thinks it right, tell Captain
Richard Devereux that I was not so unkind and thankless as I may
have seemed, but very grateful for his preference, of which I know,
in many ways, how unworthy I was. But I do not think we could have
been happy; and being all over, it is a great comfort to friends who
are separated here, that there is a place where all may meet again,
if God will; and as I did not see or speak with him since my dear
father brought his message, I wished that so much should be said,
and also to say a kind good-bye, and give him all good wishes.

'LILIAS.'
'Friday evening.'

Captain Richard Devereux read this simple little record through, and
then he said:--

'Oh, Sir, may I have it--isn't it mine?'

We who have heard those wondrous aerial