far as old Shank's, and if you like to remain I
will take you on to Triton Cottage. Miss Sally will not know what has
become of you."

Mary was glad to accept this offer, and the lawyer's gig being brought
round, she took her seat between him and his clerk.

"I will wait outside," she said when they reached Mr Shank's door. "I
can look after your horse and see it doesn't run away, for Mr Shank may
have something particular to tell you which he might not wish me to
hear."

The lawyer, appreciating Mary's delicacy, agreed, though he did not give
her the charge of his horse, as the animal was well accustomed to stand
with its head fastened to a paling while he visited his clients. Mary
waited and waited, sometimes walking about, at others standing beside
the gig, or sitting on the hillside, on the very spot which had often
been occupied by Ned. Her thoughts naturally flew away to him. Where
could he be all this time? Would Mr Hanson and Charley discover him,
or would they return without tidings of his fate?

The lawyer at last appeared, and, directing his clerk to return home
with some papers he held in his hand, he begged Mary to get into the
gig.

"I must run in to see old Mr Shank first," she said, "and learn if
there is anything aunt or I can do for him."

"You will find him more easy in his mind than he was when I arrived; but
in regard to assistance, he doesn't require it as much as you suppose.
He has consented to let me send a doctor, and a respectable woman to
attend on him. He is not in a fit state to be left by himself."

Mary was surprised at these remarks. Not wishing to delay the lawyer
she hurried in. Mr Shank, who was still seated in his arm-chair, put
out his shrivelled hand and clasped hers.

"Thank you, Mary, thank you!" he said. "You deserve to be happy, and
Heaven will bless your kindness to a forlorn old man. I may live to see
you again, but my days are numbered, whatever the lawyer may say to the
contrary."

Mary explained that Mr Thorpe was waiting for her, and saying that she
was glad to hear he was to have some one to attend on him, bade him
good-bye.

During the drive to Triton Cottage the lawyer did not further allude to
Mr Shank, and Mary very naturally forbore to question him.

Aunt Sally, who had become somewhat anxious at her long absence, was
greatly surprised at seeing Mr Thorpe, and not being influenced by the
same motive as Mary, inquired what the old man could