lar union between the neglected young wife and her only child, but
Warrender felt, he could scarcely tell why, that it annoyed and irritated
him at this moment. When he put her into the carriage, and the boy
clambered after her, he was unaccountably vexed by it,--so much vexed
that his profound sympathy for the poor lady seemed somehow checked.
Instead of following them into the carriage, which was not a very roomy
one, he shut the door upon them sharply. "I will walk," he said. "I am
not needed. Right, Jarvis, as fast as you can go." He stood by to see
them dash off, Lady Markland giving him a surprised yet half-relieved
look, in the paleness of her anxiety and misery. Then it suddenly became
apparent to him that he had done what was best and most delicate, though
without meaning it, out of the sudden annoyance which had risen within
him. It was the best thing he could have done: but to walk six miles at
the end of a fatiguing and trying day was not agreeable, and the sense
of irritation was strong in him. "If ever I have anything to do with
that boy----" he said involuntarily within himself. But what could he
ever have to do with the boy, who probably by this time, little puny
thing that he was, was Lord Markland, and the owner of all this great,
bare, unhappy-looking place, eaten up by the locusts of waste and ruin.

The butler, an old servant, had been anxiously trying all this time to
catch his eye. He came up now, as Warrender turned to follow on foot the
carriage, which was already almost out of sight. "I beg your pardon,
sir," he said, with the servant's usual formula, "but I've sent round
for the dogcart, if you'll be so kind as to wait a few minutes. None
of us, sir, but feels your kindness, coming yourself for my lady, and
leaving her alone in her trouble, poor dear. Mr. Warrender, sir, if I
may make so bold, what is the fact about my lord? Yes, sir, I heard what
you told my lady; but I thought you would nat'rally say the best, not to
frighten her. Is there any hope?"

"Not much, I fear. He was thrown out violently, and struck against a
tree; they are afraid that his spine is injured."

"Oh, sir, so young! and oh, so careless! God help us, Mr. Warrender, we
never know a step before us, do we, sir? If it's the spine, it will be
no pain; and him so joky, more than his usual, going off them very steps
this morning, though he was going to a funeral. Oh, Mr. Warrender, that
I should speak so light, forgetting----