matters are, and why I am gone?--Poor Julia!" he added,
raising her up gently and kissing her forehead, "all may yet be well.
May I take him _one_ kind word from you?" She did not speak, but her
bosom heaved convulsively. At last she said in a hoarse, quivering
whisper, "Yes, what you like; and--write and tell me if he is really
dying." Then she rushed out of the room to her own chamber, but
appeared at luncheon with all traces of emotion vanished from her
features.

The squire was absent attending a business meeting in the neighbouring
town, and nothing had yet been said to Walter on the subject of his
brother's departure. That afternoon Amos set off for Collingford, and
Walter and his sister on their shooting and sketching expedition, which
proved a miserable failure, so far as any pleasure to Julia was
concerned.

Collingford was nearly a day's journey from Flixworth Manor, so it was
not till dark that Amos arrived at the town. He sought out at once the
Scripture reader, and obtained full information as to the state of the
poor sufferer. Could he obtain lodgings in the house where the sick man
was? Mr Harris shook his head.

"I am not afraid either of poor accommodation or of infection," said
Amos. "I am come to do a work, and am safe in the Lord's hands till it
is done. He has sent me, and he will keep me."

The Scripture reader grasped him warmly by the hand. "You shall lodge
in my house," he said, "if you can be satisfied with humble fare and my
plain ways. I am not a married man, but I have a good old woman who
looks after me, and she will look after you too, and you can come and go
just as you please."

"I will take you at your word, my friend," said the other, "and will
gladly pay for bed and board."

"All right, all right," cried Mr Harris: "and for my part I am not
going to pry into your reasons for coming. You are one of the Lord's
servants on an errand of mercy and self-denying love--I can see that;
and you are welcome to my services and my silence."

Amos thanked him warmly, and his moderate luggage was soon deposited in
the Scripture reader's dwelling.

The next morning, after an early breakfast, the two friends--for true
friends they at once became in the bonds of the gospel, loving Christ's
image in each other--set out for Orlando Vivian's lodging.

"You must be prepared for something very miserable," said the Scripture
reader.

"I am prepared for anything," said the other calml