in, and have a mass of letters
to answer before that."

"When am I to see you again, Davy?" asked the old man, eagerly.

"Very soon, I hope, sir; as soon as I can, of that you may be certain,"
said he, cordially.

"Let it be soon, then, Davy, for the meeting does me good. I feel
to-night ten years younger than before you came, and it isn't the
wine either; 'tis the sight of your face and the touch of your hand.
Good-night, and my blessing be with you!" And a tear coursed down his
seared cheek as he spoke.

CHAPTER XXI. A SHOCK.

It was past midnight when Davenport Donn reached his own house. His
return was unexpected, and it was some time before he gained admission.
The delay, however, did not excite his impatience; his head was so
deeply occupied with cares and thoughts for the future that he was
scarcely conscious of the time he had been kept waiting.

Mr. Clowes, hurriedly summoned from his bed, came up full of apologies
and excuses.

"We did not expect you till to-morrow, sir, by the late packet," said
he, in some confusion. Dunn made no answer, and the other went on: "Mr.
Hankes, too, thought it not improbable you would not be here before
Wednesday."

"When was he here?"

"To-day sir; he left that oak box here this morning, and those letters,
sir."

While Dunn carelessly turned over the superscriptions, among which he
found none to interest him, Clowes repeatedly pressed his master to take
some supper, or at least a biscuit and a glass of dry sherry.

"Send for Mr. Hankes," said Dunn, at last, not condescending to notice
the entreaties of his butler. "Let him wait for me here when he comes."
And so saying, he took a candle and passed upstairs.

Mr. Clowes was too well acquainted with his master's temper to obtrude
unseasonably upon him, so that he glided noiselessly away till such time
as he might be wanted.

When Dunn entered the drawing-room, he lighted the candles of the
candelabra over the chimney and some of those which occupied the
branches along the walls, and then, turning the key in the door, sat
down to contemplate the new and splendid decorations of the apartment.

The task had been confided to skilful hands, and no more attempted than
rooms of moderate size and recent architecture permitted. The walls,
of a very pale green, displayed to advantage a few choice
pictures,--Italian scenes by Turner, a Cuyp or two, and a Mieris,--all
of them of a kind to interest those who had no con