of the elements; and Arthur told him to go on up stairs with the light,
and he would be with him presently.

Leaving Wilkins smoking in the store, Arthur stole softly into Guly's
sick chamber. A night-lamp was burning on the table, casting its mellow
light faintly through the apartment, and displaying the sufferer's pale
features, as he lay asleep, with his bright hair floating back upon his
pillow.

Arthur knelt by the bedside, and took one of his brother's burning hands
in his, and bowed his head upon it. He uttered no word, heaved no sigh,
but knelt motionless and silent--so silent that his heavy heart-throbs
were audible. When he raised his head, tears were on his cheeks, and, as
he bent to press his lips to Guly's, those tears fell down upon that
fair, pale brow, and glittered there like gems.

Dashing away these traces of what he deemed his weakness, Arthur passed
out of the room, and shaking hands with Wilkins, as he bade him
good-night, mounted the winding stairs, and entered his own chamber.

"Massa Pratt," said Jeff, turning on his mattress, as Arthur entered the
room, "you don't think as how your brudder's gwine to die, do you?"

"Die! Heavens, Jeff, no! What put that in your head?"

"Don't know, sah! don' know nuffin' 'bout it."

Arthur slowly undressed, and placing his clothes near the bedside, lay
down upon his pillow.

"Jeff, do you ever expect to get to sleep in such a tumult as this?"

"Guy, massa, guess I does. Neber was so sleepy afore in all my life.
'Spect it's dat wine dat makes it; I don't often git sich drinks as dat.
Massa Quirk mighty good just on de ebe of lebin de business. Yah! yah!"

In a few minutes Jeff was asleep; and his loud breathing was audible,
even above the howling of the storm. Arthur lay still for half an hour,
restless, and with ear strained to catch the faintest sound coming up
from the store below. But all was still, and he rose up, and dressed
himself, throwing over his other garments a cloak, which he wrapped
closely about him, as if preparing to breast the weather. He laid his
hand on the small door, leading down the steep staircase into the court,
and was about to pass forth, when, with a sudden impulse, he dropped the
cloak from his shoulders, and opened the door leading down to the store
instead. Arthur could not go out upon his mysterious errand, without
casting one more look upon his brother's face. Perhaps he felt it might
possibly give him strength to res