and
applied himself to an abstruse calculation, considerably relieved in
mind, for he had unbounded belief in the fertility of Mr Tippet's
imagination, and he knew well that whatever that old gentleman promised
he would certainly fulfil.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE BEST-LAID PLANS.

There were other men besides Mr Tippet who could be true to their
promises when it suited them.

D. Gorman was true to his, in so far as they concerned David Boone. He
visited that unfortunate invalid so frequently, and brought him so many
little "nice things" for the alleviation of his sufferings, and
exhibited altogether such nervous anxiety about his recovery, that
worthy Mrs Craw was quite overwhelmed, and said, in the fulness of her
heart, that she never did see a kinder friend, or one who more flatly
gave the lie-direct to his looks, which, she was bound to admit, were
not prepossessing.

But, despite his friend's solicitude, and his doctor's prescriptions,
and his nurse's kindness, David Boone continued steadily to sink, until
at last the doctor gave it as his opinion that he would not recover.

One afternoon, soon after the expression of this opinion, Gorman called
on his friend, and was shown as usual into his chamber. It was a wet,
cold, stormy afternoon, and the window rattled violently in its frame.

Boone was much better that afternoon. It seemed as if he had just
waited for the doctor to pronounce his unfavourable opinion in order to
have the satisfaction of contradicting it.

"He's better to-day, sir," said Mrs Craw, in a whisper.

"Better!" exclaimed Gorman with a look of surprise, "I'm glad to hear
that--very glad."

He looked as if he were very sorry, but then, as Mrs Craw said, his
looks belied him.

"He's asleep now, sir; the doctor said if he slept he was on no account
to be waked up, so I'll leave you to sit by him, sir, till he wakes,
and, please, be as quiet as you can."

Mrs Craw left the room on tip-toe, and Gorman went to the bedside and
looked on the sick man's wasted features with a frown.

"Ha! you're asleep, are you, and not to be waked up--eh? Come, I'll
rouse you."

He shook him violently by the shoulder, and Boone awoke with a start and
a groan.

"Hope I didn't disturb you, Boone," said his friend in a quiet voice.
"I came to inquire for you."

Boone started up in his bed and stared wildly at some object which
appeared to be at the foot of the bed. Gorman started too, and turned
pal