, but knocked loudly for admittance at the locked door.
My interruption broke up the conference; a chair was pushed back with
violence as Mr Heneage, it seemed, rose from it, for it was his voice
that thundered out, as he thumped the table in his rage--'To-morrow,
sir! I tell you, to-morrow. I will be fooled no longer.' And then my
master almost shrieked out--'A little time! a little time! Only a year;
one little year, Cousin Heneage!' But the savage laughed in scorn; and,
as he strode past me, followed by that other viper, looked back with
stern determination, while he uttered, in a loud insulting tone--'Not a
week, sir! Not a day beyond to-morrow.'"

On going to the assistance of his master, poor Hallings found him in a
state of dreadful agitation. "His forehead, sir, was wet with
perspiration, though the fire had burnt down to nothing, and there was
snow upon the ground, and there was a deep red spot upon either cheek.
His hands were grasping the arms of his chair, and he rose from it as I
entered, but stared at me with seeming unconsciousness. I could not see
him so, and control my own feelings. 'My dear master!' I said, and the
tears gushed from my eyes. The sight of that seemed to bring him to
himself a little--for you know, sir, how tender-hearted he was--and he
fetched two or three short sighs, and said, 'Oh, Hallings! it is all
over,' and trembled so violently that I feared he would fall, and ran to
his support; but he recovered himself, and seemed to have more strength
than usual in his crippled limbs, as he walked across the library and
hall, and up-stairs to his own bedroom, to the door of which I followed
him. But he forbade my entrance in a determined tone; and, desiring he
might not be disturbed for an hour or two, as he should lie down and
recover himself, he went in and shut the door, drawing the bolt after
him."

So far I have given you in substance the narrative of Hallings; but his
farther statement was of a nature so agitating that it was made more
unconnectedly, and I must briefly relate to you, in my own words, the
miserable conclusion.

The habitual deference with which Hallings was ever accustomed to obey
his master's least imperative command, restrained him on that last fatal
occasion from opposing his desire to be left alone and undisturbed.

But "something," the old man said, "would not let him rest, or keep away
for ten minutes together from his master's door, at which he was
anxiously l