for him; he is the rightful heir, forsooth! If we sought to
exclude him, all would redound against poor Henry, and I should see him stoned
again upon the streets. Ah! if Henry dies, it is a different matter! They have
broke the entail for their own good purposes; the estate goes to my daughter;
and I shall see who sets a foot upon it. But if Henry lives, my poor Mr.
Mackellar, and that man returns, we must suffer: only this time it will be
together.«
    On the whole I was well pleased with Mrs. Henry's attitude of mind; nor
could I even deny there was some cogency in that which she advanced about the
papers.
    »Let us say no more about it,« said I. »I can only be sorry I trusted a lady
with the originals, which was an unbusinesslike proceeding at the best. As for
what I said of leaving the service of the family, it was spoken with the tongue
only; and you may set your mind at rest. I belong to Durrisdeer, Mrs. Henry, as
if I had been born there.«
    I must do her the justice to say she seemed perfectly relieved; so that we
began this morning, as we were to continue for so many years, on a proper ground
of mutual indulgence and respect.
    The same day, which was certainly prededicate to joy, we observed the first
signal of recovery in Mr. Henry; and about three of the following afternoon he
found his mind again, recognising me by name with the strongest evidences of
affection. Mrs. Henry was also in the room, at the bed-foot; but it did not
appear that he observed her. And indeed (the fever being gone) he was so weak
that he made but the one effort and sank again into a lethargy. The course of
his restoration was now slow, but equal; every day his appetite improved; every
week we were able to remark an increase both of strength and flesh; and before
the end of the month he was out of bed and had even begun to be carried in his
chair upon the terrace.
    It was perhaps at this time that Mrs. Henry and I were the most uneasy in
mind. Apprehension for his days was at an end; and a worse fear succeeded. Every
day we drew consciously nearer to a day of reckoning; and the days passed on,
and still there was nothing. Mr. Henry bettered in strength, he held long talks
with us on a great diversity of subjects,