ed him a sort of
protection; and he looks a shrewd sort of fellow, and not likely to
neglect his hits."

A strange twinkle shone in Dunn's eyes as he heard this speech, and
a queer motion at the angle of his mouth accompanied it, but he never
spoke a word.

As for Conway, meanwhile, he was briskly stepping out towards Clontarf,
to inquire after poor Kellett, whose state was one to call for much
anxiety. To the intense excitement of the morning there had succeeded
a dull and apathetic condition, in which he seemed scarcely to notice
anything or anybody. A look half weary, half vacant, was in his eye; his
head was drooped; and a low muttering to himself was the only sign he
gave of any consciousness whatever. Such was his state when Conway left
the cottage late on the night before, with a promise to be back there
again early the next morning.

Conway saw that the shutters of the little drawing-room were half closed
as he entered the garden, and his quiet, cautious knock at the door
denoted the fear at his heart. From the window, partly open, came a low,
moaning sound, which, as he listened, he discovered to be the sick man's
voice.

"He was just asking if you had come," said Bella. "He has been talking
of poor Jack, and fancies that you have some tidings of him." And so
saying, she led him into the house.

Seated before the fire, in a low chair, his hands resting on his knees,
and his gaze fixed on the embers, Kellett never turned his head round
as they entered, nor did he notice Bella, as, in a soft, low voice, she
mentioned Conway's name.

"He has come out to see you, dear papa; to sit with you and keep you
company, and talk about dear Jack."

"Ay!" said the sick man, in a vague, purposeless tone; and Conway now
took a seat at his side, and laid one of his hands over his.

"You are better to-day, Captain Kellett, ain't you?" said he, kindly.

"Yes," said he, in the same tone as before.

"And will be still better to-morrow, I trust, and able to come out and
take this long walk with me we have so often promised ourselves."

Kellett turned and looked him full in the face. The expression of his
features was that of one vainly struggling with some confusion of ideas,
and earnestly endeavoring to find his way through difficulties, and a
faint, painful sigh at last showed that the attempt was a failure.

"What does this state mean? Is it mere depression, or is it serious
illness?" whispered Bella.

"I am not s