ure they would be so glad to see you at Hope Farm,' said I,
eagerly. 'In fact, they've asked me to bring you several times: only I
thought you would find it dull.'

'Not at all. I can't go yet though, even if you do get me an
invitation; for the ---- Company want me to go to the ---- Valley, and
look over the ground a bit for them, to see if it would do for a branch
line; it's a job which may take me away for some time; but I shall be
backwards and forwards, and you're quite up to doing what is needed in
my absence; the only work that may be beyond you is keeping old Jevons
from drinking.' He went on giving me directions about the management of
the men employed on the line, and no more was said then, or for several
months, about his going to Rope Farm. He went off into ---- Valley, a
dark overshadowed dale, where the sun seemed to set behind the hills
before four o'clock on midsummer afternoon. Perhaps it was this that
brought on the attack of low fever which he had soon after the
beginning of the new year; he was very ill for many weeks, almost many
months; a married sister--his only relation, I think--came down from
London to nurse him, and I went over to him when I could, to see him,
and give him 'masculine news,' as he called it; reports of the progress
of the line, which, I am glad to say, I was able to carry on in his
absence, in the slow gradual way which suited the company best, while
trade was in a languid state, and money dear in the market. Of course,
with this occupation for my scanty leisure, I did not often go over to
Hope Farm. Whenever I did go, I met with a thorough welcome; and many
inquiries were made as to Holdsworth's illness, and the progress of his
recovery.

At length, in June I think it was, he was sufficiently recovered to
come back to his lodgings at Eltham, and resume part at least of his
work. His sister, Mrs Robinson, had been obliged to leave him some
weeks before, owing to some epidemic amongst her own children. As long
as I had seen Mr Holdsworth in the rooms at the little inn at
Hensleydale, where I had been accustomed to look upon him as an
invalid, I had not been aware of the visible shake his fever had given
to his health. But, once back in the old lodgings, where I had always
seen him so buoyant, eloquent, decided, and vigorous in former days, my
spirits sank at the change in one whom I had always regarded with a
strong feeling of admiring affection. He sank into silence and
despo