e fee, to be sure; but then--'

'Come, Sir,' said Dangerfield, looking as though he'd pull him by the
ear; 'it _is_ a large fee, and you'll get no more--you should not stick
at trifles, when there's--a--a--justice and humanity--and, to be brief,
Sir--yes or no?'

'_Yes_,' answered the doctor; 'but how's the fee secured?'

'Hey! I'd forgot. Right, Sir--you shall be satisfied.'

And he took a pen, and wrote on the back of a letter--

* * * * *

'SIR--Considering the hopeless condition in which Dr. Sturk now lies,
and the vast importance of restoring him, Dr. Sturk, of the R.I.A., to
the power of speech, even for a few minutes, I beg to second Mrs.
Sturk's request to you; and when you shall have performed the critical
operation she desires, I hereby promise, whether it succeed or fail, to
give you a fee of five hundred guineas.
PAUL DANGERFIELD.
'The Brass Castle, Chapelizod.'

And he dated it, and handed it to the surgeon, who read it through, and
then looked with a gruff hesitation at the writer.

'Oh, you've only to enquire--anyone who knows Chapelizod will tell you
who I am; and you'll want something--eh?--to take you out of this--how
much?'

'Only seven guineas. There's a little score here, and some fees.
Eighteen will cover everything, unless something has come in this
morning.'

So they went to 'the Hatch,' and made enquiries, and all being well, Mr.
Dangerfield dealt liberally with the surgeon, who promised to be in
attendance at Dr. Sturk's house in Chapelizod, at seven o'clock next
evening.

'And pray, Dr. Dillon, come in a coach,' said Dangerfield, 'and in
costume--you understand. They've been accustomed, you know, to see Pell
and other doctors who make a parade.'

And with these injunctions they parted; and the surgeon, whose luggage
was trifling, jumped into a coach with it, and jingled home to his den
and his liberty.

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

IN WHICH CHRISTIANA GOES OVER; AND DAN LOFTUS COMES HOME.

This evening Lily Walsingham was early tired and very weak, Sally
thought, and more glad than usual to lie down in her bed; and there her
old and loving nurse fancied that she looked a little strange, and that
her thoughts sometimes wandered.

She lay very quietly for a good while, and suddenly, with a beautiful
look, and in a clear, glad voice, she said--

'Mother!'

And old Sally said--

'There's no one, dear M