his. My
heartfelt prayer and blessings go with it over the seas. Again and
again, God bless you."

Why was it that still she could not seal that letter, but sat gazing
sadly on it, while at times she turned to the open pages of poor Jack's
last epistle to her?

CHAPTER XL. SCHEMES AND PROJECTS

The post-horses ordered for Mr. Dunn's carriage arrived, duly, at break
of day; but from some change of purpose, of whose motive this veracious
history can offer no explanation, that gentleman did not take his
departure, but merely despatched a messenger to desire Mr. Hankes would
come over to the Hermitage.

"I shall remain here to-day, Hankes," said he, carelessly, "and not
impossibly to-morrow also. There's something in the air here suits me,
and I have not felt quite well latterly."

Mr. Hankes bowed; but not even his long-practised reserve could conceal
the surprise he felt at this allusion to health or well-being. Positive
illness he could understand,--a fever or a broken leg were intelligible
ills; but the slighter casualties of passing indispositions were
weaknesses that he could not imagine a business mind could descend
to, no more than he could fancy a man's being turned from pursuing his
course because some one had accidentally jostled him in the streets.

Dunn was too acute a reader of men's thoughts not to perceive the
impression his words had produced; but with the indifference he ever
bestowed upon inferiors, he went on:--

"Forward my letters here till you hear from me; there's nothing so very
pressing at this moment that cannot wait my return to town. Stay--I was
to have had a dinner on Saturday; you'll have to put them off. Clowes
will show you the list; and let some of the evening papers mention
my being unavoidably detained in the south,--say nothing about
indisposition."

"Of course not, sir," said Hankes, quite shocked at such an indiscretion
being deemed possible.

"And why, 'of course,' Mr. Hankes?" said Dunn, slowly. "I never knew it
was amongst the prerogatives of active minds to be exempt from ailment."

"A bad thing to speak about, sir,--a very bad thing, indeed," said
Hankes, solemnly. "You constantly hear people remark, 'He was never the
same man since that last attack.'"

"Psha!" said Dunn, contemptuously.

"I assure you, sir, I speak the sense of the community. The old adage
says, 'Two removes are as bad as a fire,' and in the same spirit I would
say, 'Two gouty seizures are e