I conceived I had best take the bull by the horns. "Mr. Henry," said I,
"I have news to give that will rejoice you exceedingly. In all human
likelihood, your hands are clear of blood. I reason from certain
indices; and by these it should appear your brother was not dead, but
was carried in a swound on board the lugger. But now he may be perfectly
recovered."

What there was in his countenance I could not read. "James?" he asked.

"Your brother James," I answered. "I would not raise a hope that may be
found deceptive, but in my heart I think it very probable he is alive."

"Ah!" says Mr. Henry; and suddenly rising from his seat with more
alacrity than he had yet discovered, set one finger on my breast, and
cried at me in a kind of screaming whisper, "Mackellar"--these were his
words--"nothing can kill that man. He is not mortal. He is bound upon my
back to all eternity--to all God's eternity!" says he, and, sitting down
again, fell upon a stubborn silence.

A day or two after, with the same secret smile, and first looking about
as if to be sure we were alone, "Mackellar," said he, "when you have any
intelligence, be sure and let me know. We must keep an eye upon him, or
he will take us when we least expect."

"He will not show face here again," said I.

"O yes, he will," said Mr. Henry. "Wherever I am, there will he be." And
again he looked all about him.

"You must not dwell upon this thought, Mr. Henry," said I.

"No," said he, "that is a very good advice. We will never think of it,
except when you have news. And we do not know yet," he added; "he may be
dead."

The manner of his saying this convinced me thoroughly of what I had
scarce ventured to suspect: that, so far from suffering any penitence
for the attempt, he did but lament his failure. This was a discovery I
kept to myself, fearing it might do him a prejudice with his wife. But I
might have saved myself the trouble; she had divined it for herself, and
found the sentiment quite natural. Indeed, I could not but say that
there were three of us, all of the same mind; nor could any news have
reached Durrisdeer more generally welcome than tidings of the Master's
death.

This brings me to speak of the exception, my old lord. As soon as my
anxiety for my own master began to be relaxed, I was aware of a change
in the old gentleman, his father, that seemed to threaten mortal
consequences.

His face was pale and swollen; as he sat in the chimney-side with