return home himself,
and unable to leave the poor young man in such a condition among
strangers, had decided on bringing him to England, according to his own
most eager desire, as the doctors declared that the voyage could do no
harm, and might be beneficial. Mr. Currie wrote from Quebec, where he
had taken his passage by a steamer that would follow his letter in four
days' time, and he begged Robert to write to him at Liverpool stating
what should be done with the patient, should he be then alive. His mind,
he said, was clear, but weak, and his memory, from the moment of his fall
till nearly the present time, a blank. He had begged Mr. Currie to write
to his sister or to Miss Charlecote, but the engineer had preferred to
devolve the communication upon Mr. Fulmort. Of poor Owen he spoke with
much feeling, in high terms of commendation, saying that he was a
valuable friend and companion as well as a very right hand in his
business, and that his friends might be assured that he (Mr. Currie)
would watch over him as if he were his own son, and that his temporary
assistant, Mr. Randolf, was devoted to him, and had nursed him most
tenderly from the first.

'Four days' time,' said Honor, when she had taken in the sense of these
appalling tidings. 'We can be at Liverpool to meet him. Do not object,
Robert. Nothing else will be bearable to either his sister or me.'

'It was of his sister that I was thinking,' said Robert. 'Do you think
her strong enough for the risks of a hurried journey, with perhaps a
worse shock awaiting her when the steamer comes in? Will you let me go
alone? I have sent orders to be telegraphed for as soon as the _Asia_ is
signalled, and if I go at once, I can either send for you if needful, or
bring him to you. Will you not let me?'

He spoke with persuasive authority, and Honora half yielded. 'It may be
better,' she said, 'it _may_. A man may do more for him there than we
could, but I do not know whether poor Lucy will let you, or--' (as a
sudden recollection recurred to her) 'whether she ought.'

'Poor Owen is my friend, my charge,' said Robert.

'I believe you are right, you kind Robin,' said Honor. 'The journey
might be a great danger for Lucy, and if I went, I know she would not
stay behind. But I still think she will insist on seeing him.'

'I believe not,' said Robert; 'at least, if she regard submission as a
duty.'

'Oh, Robin, you do not know. Poor child, how am I to tell h