it had to be abandoned. His behaviour was that of
an old man, enfeebled in mind and body. Once or twice his manner of
speaking painfully reminded Nancy of her father during the last days of
his life.

With a peevish sort of interest he watched his little nephew toddling
about the room, but did not address a word to the child.

A cab was sent for to convey him to the railway station. Nancy had known
few such melancholy days as this.

On the morning when, by agreement, she was to go into town to see her
brother, there arrived a note from him. He had been advised to try a
health-resort in Switzerland, and was already on the way. Sorry he could
not let Nancy know before; would visit her on his return. Thus, in the
style of telegraphy, as though he wrote in hot haste.

From Switzerland came two letters, much more satisfactory in tone and
contents. The first, written in July, announced a distinct improvement
of health. No details being supplied, Nancy could only presume that her
brother was living alone at the hotel from which he dated. The second
communication, a month later, began thus: 'I think I forgot to tell you
that I came here with Mrs. Damerel. She will stay till the end of the
summer, and then, perhaps, go with me to the Bahamas, if that seems
necessary. But I am getting wonderfully well and strong. Mrs. Damerel is
kinder to me than any one in the world ever was. I shall tell you more
about her some day.' The writer went on to describe a project he had
of taking a small farm in Devonshire, and living upon it as a country
gentleman.

Tarrant warned his wife not to build hopes upon this surprising report,
and a few weeks brought news that justified him. Horace wrote that he
had suffered a very bad attack, and was only now sufficiently recovered
to hold a pen. 'I don't know what we shall do, but I am in good hands.
No one was ever better nursed, night and day--More before long.'

Indeed, it was not long. A day or two after Nancy's return from a
seaside holiday, Mary brought in a telegram. It came from Mrs. Damerel.
'Your brother died at ten o'clock last night, suddenly, and without
pain. I am posting a letter he had written for you.'

When the promised letter arrived, it was found to bear a date two months
ago. An unwonted tenderness marked the opening words.

MY DEAREST SISTER--What I am going to write is not to be sent to you
at once. Sometimes I feel afraid that I can't live very long, so I have
been making