her I can still love!"

The heart that no other voice could touch felt that appeal. The fierce
eyes, the hard voice, softened under Crayford's influence. Richard
Wardour's head sank on his breast.

"You are kinder to me than I deserve," he said. "Be kinder still, and
forget what I have been talking about. No! no more about me; I am not
worth it. We'll change the subject, and never go back to it again. Let's
do something. Work, Crayford--that's the true elixir of our life! Work,
that stretches the muscles and sets the blood a-glowing. Work, that
tires the body and rests the mind. Is there nothing in hand that I can
do? Nothing to cut? nothing to carry?"

The door opened as he put the question. Bateson--appointed to chop
Frank's bed-place into firing--appeared punctually with his ax. Wardour,
without a word of warning, snatched the ax out of the man's hand.

"What was this wanted for?" he asked.

"To cut up Mr. Aldersley's berth there into firing, sir."

"I'll do it for you! I'll have it down in no time!" He turned to
Crayford. "You needn't be afraid about me, old friend. I am going to do
the right thing. I am going to tire my body and rest my mind."

The evil spirit in him was plainly subdued--for the time, at least.
Crayford took his hand in silence; and then (followed by Bateson) left
him to his work.

Chapter 10.

Ax in hand, Wardour approached Frank's bed-place.

"If I could only cut the thoughts out of me," he said to himself, "as I
am going to cut the billets out of this wood!" He attacked the bed-place
with the ax, like a man who well knew the use of his instrument. "Oh
me!" he thought, sadly, "if I had only been born a carpenter instead
of a gentleman! A good ax, Master Bateson--I wonder where you got it?
Something like a grip, my man, on this handle. Poor Crayford! his words
stick in my throat. A fine fellow! a noble fellow! No use thinking, no
use regretting; what is said, is said. Work! work! work!"

Plank after plank fell out on the floor. He laughed over the easy task
of destruction. "Aha! young Aldersley! It doesn't take much to demolish
your bed-place. I'll have it down! I would have the whole hut down, if
they would only give me the chance of chopping at it!"

A long strip of wood fell to his ax--long enough to require cutting
in two. He turned it, and stooped over it. Something caught his
eye--letters carved in the wood. He looked closer. The letters were very
faintly and badly cut. H