en when the
hand of God alone inflicts it. The best of us are but poor wretches just
saved from shipwreck: can we feel anything but awe and pity when we see a
fellow-passenger swallowed by the waves?'

'Right, right, Mr. Tryan. I'm over hot and hasty, that I am. But I beg on
you to tell Mrs. Dempster--I mean, in course, when you've an
opportunity--tell her she's a friend at the White House as she may send
for any hour o' the day.'

'Yes; I shall have an opportunity, I dare say, and I will remember your
wish. I think,' continued Mr. Tryan, turning to Mr. Landor, 'I had better
see Mr. Pilgrim on my way, and learn what is exactly the state of things
by this time. What do you think?'

'By all means: if Mrs. Dempster is to know, there's no one can break the
news to her so well as you. I'll walk with you to Dempster's door. I dare
say Pilgrim is there still. Come, Mr. Jerome, you've got to go our way
too, to fetch your horse.'

Mr. Pilgrim was in the passage giving some directions to his assistant,
when, to his surprise, he saw Mr. Tryan enter. They shook hands; for Mr.
Pilgrim, never having joined the party of the Anti-Tryanites, had no
ground for resisting the growing conviction, that the Evangelical curate
was really a good fellow, though he was a fool for not taking better care
of himself.

'Why, I didn't expect to see you in your old enemy's quarters,' he said
to Mr. Tryan. 'However, it will be a good while before poor Dempster
shows any fight again.'

'I came on Mrs. Dempster's account,' said Mr. Tryan. 'She is staying at
Mrs. Pettifer's; she has had a great shock from some severe domestic
trouble lately, and I think it will be wiser to defer telling her of this
dreadful event for a short time.'

'Why, what has been up, eh?' said Mr. Pilgrim, whose curiosity was at
once awakened. 'She used to be no friend of yours. Has there been some
split between them? It's a new thing for her to turn round on him.'

'O, merely an exaggeration of scenes that must often have happened
before. But the question now is, whether you think there is any immediate
danger of her husband's death; for in that case, I think, from what I
have observed of her feelings, she would be pained afterwards to have
been kept in ignorance.'

'Well, there's no telling in these cases, you know. I don't apprehend
speedy death, and it is not absolutely impossible that we may bring him
round again. At present he's in a state of apoplectic stupor; but i