me
in, and I would have walked straight upstairs. In fact, it was far more
the fear of intrusion--the fear of yourself--that baffled me than the
fear of Mrs. Yorke."

"Only last night I despaired of ever seeing you again. Weakness has
wrought terrible depression in me--terrible depression."

"And you sit alone?"

"Worse than alone."

"But you must be getting better, since you can leave your bed?"

"I doubt whether I shall live. I see nothing for it, after such
exhaustion, but decline."

"You--you shall go home to the Hollow."

"Dreariness would accompany, nothing cheerful come near me."

"I _will_ alter this. This _shall_ be altered, were there ten Mrs.
Yorkes to do battle with."

"Cary, you make me smile."

"Do smile; smile again. Shall I tell you what I should like?"

"Tell me anything--only keep talking. I am Saul; but for music I should
perish."

"I should like you to be brought to the rectory, and given to me and
mamma."

"A precious gift! I have not laughed since they shot me till now."

"Do you suffer pain, Robert?"

"Not so much pain now; but I am hopelessly weak, and the state of my
mind is inexpressible--dark, barren, impotent. Do you not read it all in
my face? I look a mere ghost."

"Altered; yet I should have known you anywhere. But I understand your
feelings; I experienced something like it. Since we met, I too have been
very ill."

"_Very_ ill?"

"I thought I should die. The tale of my life seemed told. Every night,
just at midnight, I used to wake from awful dreams; and the book lay
open before me at the last page, where was written 'Finis.' I had
strange feelings."

"You speak my experience."

"I believed I should never see you again; and I grew so thin--as thin as
you are now. I could do nothing for myself--neither rise nor lie down;
and I could not eat. Yet you see I am better."

"Comforter--sad as sweet. I am too feeble to say what I feel; but while
you speak I _do_ feel."

"Here I am at your side, where I thought never more to be. Here I speak
to you. I see you listen to me willingly--look at me kindly. Did I count
on that? I despaired."

Moore sighed--a sigh so deep it was nearly a groan. He covered his eyes
with his hand.

"May I be spared to make some atonement."

Such was his prayer.

"And for what?"

"We will not touch on it now, Cary; unmanned as I am, I have not the
power to cope with such a topic. Was Mrs. Pryor with you during your
illness?"

"Yes"