"but listen. To-morrow morning, two hours
before daybreak, you will go down to the bay. There is a small boat
lying by the little jetty, and a fishing smack at anchor about a
biscuit-throw farther out. The good woman who is housekeeper here
will lead you----"

"Why she?" interrupted Sunlocks.

Jason paused, and said, "Have you anything against her?"

"No indeed," said Sunlocks. "A good, true woman. One who lately lost
her husband, and at the same time all the cheer and hope of life.
Simple and sweet, and silent, and with a voice that recalls another
who was once very near and dear to me."

"Is she not so still?" said Jason.

"God knows. I scarce can tell. Sometimes I think she is dearer to me
than ever, and now that I am blind I seem to see her near me always.
It is only a dream, a foolish dream."

"But what if the dream came true?" said Jason.

"That cannot be," said Sunlocks. "Yet where is she? What has become
of her? Is she with her father? What is she doing?"

"You shall soon know now," said Jason. "Only ask to-morrow and this
good woman will take you to her."

"But why not you yourself, Jason?" said Sunlocks.

"Because I am to stay here until you return," said Jason.

"What?" cried Sunlocks. "You are to stay here?"

"Yes," said Jason.

"As bondman to the law instead of me? Is that it? Speak!" cried
Sunlocks.

"And why not?" said Jason, calmly.

There was silence for a moment. Sunlocks felt about with his helpless
hands until he touched Jason and then he fell sobbing upon his neck.

"Jason, Jason," he cried, "this is more than a brother's love. Ah,
you do not know the risk you would run; but I know it, and I must not
keep it from you. Any day, any hour, a despatch may come to the ship
outside to order that I should be shot. Suppose I were to go to the
dear soul who calls for me, and the despatch came in my
absence--where would you be then?"

"I should be here," said Jason, simply.

"My lad, my brave lad," cried Sunlocks, "what are you saying? If you
cannot think for yourself, then think for me. If what I have said
were to occur, should I ever know another moment's happiness? No,
never, never, though I regained my sight, as they say I may, and my
place and my friends--all save one--and lived a hundred years."

Jason started at that thought, but there was no one to look upon his
face under the force of it, and he wriggled with it and threw it off.

"But you will come back," he said. "If the d