door was opened and Jerry stole in
on tiptoe.

"Think I wasn't a-coming, sir?" he said, sadly.

"The news!--the news!" gasped Richard.

Jerry was silent, as he stood gazing wistfully at the inquirer.

"Can't you see that I am dying to hear?" cried the lad imploringly.

"Yes, sir," came in a broken voice; "but I've got that to tell you
that'll break your 'art as well, sir."

"Then it is the worst?" groaned Richard.

"Yes, sir: master told me. He rang for me to tell me as soon as the
doctor had gone to the hotel. I let him out, sir. Yes, sir, master
rung for me to tell me; and, of course, he meant it so that I might come
up and tell you. `Brigley,' he says, `the doctor gives us no hope at
all. There was a piece of bone pressing on the brain, he says, and this
the doctors removed; but the shock was too much for the poor fellow, and
he won't last the night.'"

Richard sat back in his chair, rigid, as if cut in stone, and Jerry went
on--

"Don't look like that, sir; don't, please! You wanted me to tell you.
It was my dooty, sir; and now, sir, you know the worst, do take a bit of
advice, sir. Even if you don't undress, go and lie down, and have a
good sleep till morning. There, sir, I must, too. I'll bring you a cup
of tea about six, sir. Good-night, sir."

"Good-night," said Richard, quietly.

"Ah, that's better," said Jerry to himself. "Now he knows the worst,
he's easier like. What's o'clock?"

He drew a big-faced watch from his pocket by its steel chain.

"Harpus one; not much time for my snooze. I'll just go and make up
cook's fire, put the kettle over, and have a nap there. It's no use to
go to bed now."

Jerry did as he had promised to himself, and finally sank back in a kind
of Windsor chair, dropping off to sleep the next instant, and, by force
of habit, waking just at the time he had arranged in his mind.

"Ten minutes to six," he muttered, smiling. "I've got a head like a
'larum. Just upon the boil, too," he added, addressing the kettle, as
he changed it from the trivet on to the glowing coals.

The clocks were striking six as he went softly upstairs with a little
tray, and, turning the handle, entered Richard Frayne's room, where one
of the windows was open; and all looked bright and cheery in the early
morning sunshine as he set the tray down upon the table beside the
larger one, which showed that some bread had been broken off, but the
rest of the contents were untouched.

"