ordingly brought, and the
poor shattered player was carried speedily forth from the scene of his
transitory triumphs.

"And what shall _we_ do?" asked Walter in a disturbed whisper to his
sister.

"Oh, take me home! take me home!" she cried; "I can't bear it."

"But ought we not to go and look after him?" asked her brother.

"Take me home! take me home!" was all her cry, and the horses were soon
brought and mounted; while the vast crowd melted gradually away,
subdued, and exchanging half-whispered words of surprise and dismay.

Sadly and slowly did the brother and sister make their way home to
Flixworth Manor, neither venturing a word for some miles. At last
Julia, drawing as close to her brother as possible, said in a voice of
agitated entreaty, "Walter, dear Walter, you _must_ promise me one
thing."

"What is that?" he asked gloomily.

She noticed his manner, and cried, "O Walter, you must; indeed you
must."

"Must what?" he asked.

"Oh, you must promise me not to breathe to any one at home--not to my
father, not to my aunt, not to any one at all, and least of all to
Amos--who it was that--that met with this sad accident to-day. Will you
promise me?" Walter was silent for a minute or more. "Oh!" she
exclaimed passionately, "you will, you must; I shall be miserable if you
do not."

"But," said her brother, "will this be right? ought you not to go to
your poor wretched husband? Perhaps he is dying. I am sure Amos would
say that you ought."

"Never mind what Amos would say," she exclaimed angrily; "I have not
given up my conscience into his keeping. It's of no use; I have
suffered enough for _him_ (you know who I mean) and from him already.
He can't be better cared for than he will be at the hospital. If I were
to go to him he would only swear at me."

"But it will be sure to come out and be generally known who he is,
sooner or later," her brother replied; "and what good can be done by
concealing it now?"

"Only the good of doing your poor sister a kindness," she said bitterly
and pettishly. "But I don't see why it need come out; and it will be
time for it to be known at home when it does come out."

"Well," said Walter reluctantly, "I promise--"

"There's a dear, good brother," she said; "you have taken a load off my
mind. And as for him, we can get to hear from the hospital people how
he is going on, and I can but go to him if they give a very bad report."

Her brother made no further re