ounter; but the dishonourable, criminal
act which his cousin's charge had fixed upon him soured all, and they
readily obeyed the principal's wish that he should be left to himself.

There were times when it seemed impossible to him that the charge he had
made should so have recoiled and fixed itself upon him; but, by a
strange perverseness, thus it was, and, saving by the servant, hardly a
friendly word had been spoken.

"Am I going mad?" he muttered, as he tramped up and down, holding his
throbbing head. "It seems more than I can bear!"

It was evening now, a glorious summer evening; with the mellow sunshine
lighting up the lake-like meadows, for the river was far out of bounds
and spreading still; but Richard Frayne saw nothing through the black
cloud which seemed to shut him in. Then all at once, sending an
electric thrill through him, there was a sharp tap at the door, and he
turned to meet the visitor.

Only Jerry, who came in bearing a napkin-covered tray, holding it
resting upon the edge as he cleared a space upon the table.

"Well?" cried Richard, hoarsely.

"Your dinner, sir, that I was to bring up."

"How is he? How is he?" panted Richard.

The man looked at him sadly, shook his head, and went on clearing a
place for the tray.

"Why don't you speak?" cried Richard, fiercely. "Not--not--?"

He could not finish.

"No, sir; and the big doctor hasn't got here yet. There you are, sir.
Now do sit down and eat a bit; you must want something!"

"Take it away!"

"No, no, sir; do, please, try!"

"Take it away, I tell you!"

Jerry stood looking at him piteously, rubbing his hands one over the
other as if he were washing them.

"I know it goes agin' you, sir, of course; but you ought, sir; indeed,
you ought!"

"Tell me," cried Richard, "who is with him?"

"The doctor, sir, and the nurse; and master's always going up and down.
I met him only just now that upset and white it gave me quite a turn.
He shook his head at me. `A terrible business, Brigley, very!' he says;
`a terrible business! I wouldn't have had it happen for a thousand
pounds!'"

"There, go away now, Jerry! Pray, pray, don't stop! Take all that
down!"

"No, sir; I can't do that!" said the man. "It was master's orders, and
you must really try to eat."

Richard sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands, but only
sprang up the next minute upon feeling his shoulder touched, and saw the
man leaning over him.

"Ca