, for there was something ambiguous and even
derisive in the tone of Feltram's voice.

But before he could quite make up his mind, Feltram spoke again.

"Everything is settled about you and me?"

"There is nothing to prevent your staying at Mardykes now," said Sir
Bale graciously.

"I shall be with you for two years, and then I go on my travels,"
answered Feltram, with a saturnine and somewhat wild look around him.

"Is he going mad?" thought the Baronet.

"But before I go, I'm to put you in a way of paying off your mortgages.
That is my business here."

Sir Bale looked at him sharply. But now there was not the unpleasant
smile, but the darkened look of a man in secret pain.

"You shall know it all by and by."

And without more ceremony, and with a darkening face, Philip Feltram
made his way under the boughs of the thick oaks that grew there, leaving
on Sir Bale's mind an impression that he had been watching some one at a
distance, and had gone in consequence of a signal.

In a few seconds he followed in the same direction, halloaing after
Feltram; for he did not like the idea of his wandering about the country
by moonlight, or possibly losing his life among the precipices, and
bringing a new discredit upon his house. But no answer came; nor could
he in that thick copse gain sight of him again.

When Sir Bale reached Mardykes Hall he summoned Mrs. Julaper, and had a
long talk with her. But she could not say that there appeared anything
amiss with Philip Feltram; only he seemed more reserved, and as if he
was brooding over something he did not intend to tell.

"But, you know, Sir Bale, what happened might well make a thoughtful man
of him. If he's ever to think of Death, it should be after looking him
so hard in the face; and I'm not ashamed to say, I'm glad to see he has
grace to take the lesson, and I hope his experiences may be sanctified
to him, poor fellow! Amen."

"Very good song, and very well sung," said Sir Bale; "but it doesn't
seem to me that he has been improved, Mrs. Julaper. He seems, on the
contrary, in a queer temper and anything but a heavenly frame of mind;
and I thought I'd ask you, because if he is ill--I mean feverish--it
might account for his eccentricities, as well as make it necessary to
send after him, and bring him home, and put him to bed. But I suppose it
is as you say,--his adventure has upset him a little, and he'll sober in
a day or two, and return to his old ways."

But th