efforts the other was making, for he continued to move along with
his head down, mumbling at intervals to himself certain broken and
incoherent words. At first, MacNaghten hoped that this moody dejection
would pass away, and his mind recover its wonted sharpness; but now
he saw that the impression under which he labored was no passing or
momentary burden, but a heavy load that weighed wearily on his spirits.

"I am afraid you are scarcely so well as usual to-day?" asked Dan, after
a long interval of silence between them.

"I have a pain hereabouts,--it is not a pain either, but I feel uneasy,"
said Curtis, pushing his hat back from his forehead, and touching his
temple with his finger.

"It will pass away with the fresh air and a hearty breakfast, I hope. If
not, I will see some one on our return. Who is your doctor?"

"My doctor! You ask a man who has lived eighty-four years who is his
doctor! That nature that gave him a good stout frame; the spirit that
told him what it could, and what it could not, bear,--these, and a
hearty contempt for physic and all that live by it, have guided me so
far, and you may call them my doctors if you wish."

Rather pleased to have recalled the old man to his habitual energy,
Dan affected to contest his opinions, by way of inducing him to support
them; but he quickly saw his error, for Curtis, as though wearied by
even this momentary effort, seemed more downcast and depressed than
before.

MacNaghten, therefore, contented himself with some commonplace remarks
about the country around and the road they were walking, when Curtis
came to a sudden halt, and said,--

"You would n't take the offer, I 'll be sworn. You 'd say at once:
'Show me what rights I 'm surrendering; let me know the terms of the
agreement.' But what signifies all that at my age?--the last of the
stock besides! If I lay by what will pay the undertaker, it's all the
world has a right to demand at my hands."

"Here's 'The Friar,'--this is our inn," said MacNaghten. "Shall I be the
caterer, eh? What say you to some fried fish and a glass of Madeira, to
begin with?"

"I 'll have a breakfast, sir, that suits my condition," said Curtis,
haughtily. "Send the landlord here for my orders."

"Here's our man, then," said MacNaghten, humoring the whim, as he pushed
the innkeeper towards him.

"What's your name, my good fellow?" asked Curtis, with a supercilious
look at the short but well-conditioned figure before him.