it, and the progress was so poor during the next week that
the doctor determined to have his patient up, and came one morning in
company with the bailiff, talking to him seriously the while.

They were very kind to him, helping him to dress, and helped him at last
into the outer room, where it was light and cool, and old Hannah, with a
face full of commiseration, had placed an easy-chair for the pale, weak
man, with his eyes and head bandaged heavily.

It so happened that just as John Grange lay back in the chair, while old
Hannah stood with her handkerchief to her eyes, crying silently, and
James Ellis was behind the chair looking very grave and stern, Daniel
Barnett came up to the door of the bothy with a message, which he did
not deliver, for the words he heard arrested him, and he drew back
listening.

"Now, doctor, please," sighed Grange; "it has been so hard to bear all
this long time, and I have been very patient. Let me have the bandage
off, and, if it's only a glimpse, one look at the bright sunshine
again."

There was silence for a moment, and then the doctor took the young man's
hand, his voice shaking a little, as he said gravely--

"Grange, my lad, three weeks ago I felt that I could not save your life.
God has heard our prayers, and let my poor skill avail. You will in a
few weeks be as strong as ever."

"Yes--yes," said the patient, in tones of humble thankfulness, and then
his lips moved for a few moments, but no sound was heard. Then
aloud--"Believe me, doctor, I am grateful. But the bandage. Let me see
the light."

"My poor fellow!" began the doctor, and old Hannah uttered a sob, "you
must know."

"Ah!" cried John Grange, snatching the bandage from his eyes, the broad
handkerchief kept there ever since the fall. "Don't--don't tell me
that--I--I was afraid--yes--dark--all dark! Doctor--doctor--don't tell
me I am blind!"

Old Hannah's sobs grew piteous, and in the silence which followed, James
Ellis stole on tiptoe towards the window, unable to be a witness of the
agony which convulsed the young man's face.

"Then it is true!" said Grange. "Blind--blind from that awful shock."

"Ah, here you are, Master Barnett," cried the voice of old Tummus
outside. "The doctor. Is he coming over? 'Cause he needn't now."

"What is the matter?" said Ellis, stepping out, with Daniel Barnett
backing away from the porch before him.

"Poor owd Dunton's gone, sir; dropped off dead ripe at last--jus