faces.

Reilly brought a lamp, more quickly than might have been expected of
him. There was the measured tramp of men's feet and something came in
sight as the lamplight streamed out on the wet ground.

"Stand back!" Lady O'Gara said, pushing away the crowding servants with
a gesture. "Can they see, Patsy?"

"They can see," said Patsy. "God help you! But mind ye he's not kilt.
I'm goin' for the doctor. I won't be many minutes."

Into the hall came Tim Murphy, the road-contractor and small farmer,
who lived up a boreen from the bog. He was under the tailboard of the
cart. Behind was his son Larry. There was a crowd of wet faces and
tousled heads crowding in the dark looking into the hall.

The men were carrying the silent figure of Sir Shawn O'Gara, hatless,
his scarlet coat sodden and mud-stained, his eyes closed and his head
fallen to one side.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE SICK WATCHERS

Patsy had told the truth. Sir Shawn was not dead. Whether he was
going to live was another matter.

Patsy had brought back Dr. Costello with unhoped for speed. The doctor
had just come in from a case and had only to get what he thought he
might need and come as fast as his motor-bicycle would carry him. He
was a kind, competent doctor who might have had a wider field for his
ambition than this lonely bog country. One of the big Dublin doctors
had said to a patient: "Haven't you got Costello at Killesky? I don't
know why he wastes himself there. It is very lucky for you since you
need not trouble to be coming up to me."

It was a comfort to the poor woman's desolation to see the pitying
capable face.

"Patsy has told me all about it as we came along," he said in the slow
even voice that had quieted many a terrified heart. "I got him to
leave his bicycle at my place and come back with me in the side car.
The horse broke his back in the bog, I believe. Better the horse than
the man. Is there any one here who will help me to undress him?"

"The butler valets my husband," Lady O'Gara replied. "He was with an
invalid before he came to us, and he was highly recommended for his
skill and gentleness in nursing. I did not think then that we should
have need of these qualifications."

"The very man I want. Can you send him?"

As she turned away he put his hand on her arm. The pale smile with
which she had spoken touched the man who was accustomed to but not
hardened by human suffering.

"It is not as bad as i