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resh discoveries, or incidents wonderful to the inland mind. After dinner, which had driven Leonard to lie on his bed, Aubrey persuaded his sister to come to see his greatest prize; a quaint old local naturalist, a seafaring man, with a cottage crammed with pans of live wonders of the deep in water, and shelves of extinct ones, 'done up in stane pies,' not a creature, by sea or land, that had haunted Coombe for a few million of ages, seemed to have escaped him. Such sea-side sojourns as the present, are the prime moments for coquetries with the lighter branches of natural science, and the brother and sister had agreed to avail themselves of the geological facilities of their position, the fascinations of Hugh Miller's autobiography having entirely gained them during Aubrey's convalescence. Ethel tore herself away from the discussion of localities with the old man, who was guide as well as philosopher, boatman as well as naturalist, and returned to her patient, whom she found less feverish, though sadly low and languid. 'I wish I knew what to do for you,' she said, sitting down by him. 'What would your sister do for you?' 'Nothing,' he wearily said, 'I mean, a great deal too much.' The tone so recalled Norman's dejected hopelessness, that she could not help tenderly laying her cold hands on the hot brow, and saying, 'Yes, I know how little one can do as a sister--and the mockery it is to think that one place can ever be taken!' The brown eyes looked at her with moist earnestness that she could hardly bear, but closed with a look of relief and soothing, as she held her hand on his forehead. Presently, however, he said, 'Don't let me keep you in.' 'I have been out, thank you. I am so glad to try to do anything for you.' 'Thank you. What o'clock is it, please? Ah, then I ought to take that draught! I forgot it in the morning.' He permitted her to fetch it and pour it out, but as she recognized a powerful tonic, she exclaimed, 'Is this what you are taking? May it not make you feverish?' 'No doubt it does,' he said, lying down again; 'it was only Henry--' 'What! did not my father know of it?' 'Of course he does not, as it seems to be poison.' 'Not exactly that,' said Ethel; 'but I was surprised, for it was talked of for Aubrey; but they said it wanted watching.' 'Just like Henry,' observed Leonard. 'Well,' said Ethel, repressing her indignation, 'I am glad, at least, to find a possible ca
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