can he--if he takes the job?"

To which obvious logic no assent was necessary.

Davy's abrupt departure was for the exact reason Mr. Kelly ascribed.
And he had taken Hugo with him because he feared that he would say or
do something to keep the scandal from dying the quick death of all
scandals. There was the less difficulty in dissuading him from staying
to sun himself in the glories of his new rank and title because his
wife had cast him adrift for the time and was stopping at the house of
her father, whose death was hourly expected.

Old Hastings had been in a stupor for several weeks. He astonished
everybody, except Dr. Charlton, by rousing on election night and asking
how the battle had gone.

"And he seemed to understand what I told him," said Jane.

"Certainly he understood," replied Charlton. "The only part of him
that's in any sort of condition is his mind, because it's the only part
of him that's been properly exercised. Most people die at the top
first because they've never in all their lives used their minds when
they could possibly avoid it."

In the week following the election he came out of his stupor again. He
said to the nurse:

"It's about supper time, ain't it?"

"Yes," answered she. "They're all down at din--supper. Shall I call
them?"

"No," said he. "I want to go down to her room."

"To Miss Jane's room?" asked the puzzled nurse.

"To my wife's room," said Hastings crossly.

The nurse, a stranger, thought his mind was wandering. "Certainly,"
said she soothingly. "In a few minutes--as soon as you've rested a
while."

"You're a fool!" mumbled Hastings. "Call Jinny."

The nurse obeyed. When he repeated his request to Jane, she hesitated.
The tears rolled down his cheeks. "I know what I'm about," he pleaded.
"Send for Charlton. He'll tell you to let me have my way."

Jane decided that it was best to yield. The shrunken figure, weighing
so little that it was terrifying to lift it, was wrapped warmly, and
put in an invalid chair. With much difficulty the chair was got out
into the hall and down the stairs. Then they wheeled it into the room
where he was in the habit of sitting after supper. When he was
opposite the atrocious crayon enlargement of his wife an expression of
supreme content settled upon his features. Said he:

"Go back to your supper, Jinny. Take the nurse woman with you. I want
to be by myself."

The nurse glanced stealthily in from time to time duri