e state in which he then was; and if he
only knew more about this danger he could guard against it; guard others;
perhaps himself)--"By the way, have you ever heard anything of Dunster
since he went off to--America, isn't it thought?"

He was startled beyond his power of self-control by the instantaneous
change in Mr. Wilkins which his question produced. Both started up; Mr.
Wilkins white, shaking, and trying to say something, but unable to form a
sensible sentence.

"Good God! sir, what is the matter?" said Ralph, alarmed at these signs
of physical suffering.

Mr. Wilkins sat down, and repelled his nearer approach without speaking.

"It is nothing, only this headache which shoots through me at times.
Don't look at me, sir, in that way. It is very unpleasant to find
another man's eyes perpetually fixed upon you."

"I beg your pardon," said Ralph, coldly; his short-lived sympathy, thus
repulsed, giving way to his curiosity. But he waited for a minute or two
without daring to renew the conversation at the point where they had
stopped: whether interrupted by bodily or mental discomfort on the part
of his companion he was not quite sure. While he hesitated how to begin
again on the subject, Mr. Wilkins pulled the bottle of brandy to himself
and filled his glass again, tossing off the spirit as if it had been
water. Then he tried to look Mr. Corbet full in the face, with a stare
as pertinacious as he could make it, but very different from the keen
observant gaze which was trying to read him through.

"What were we talking about?" said Ralph, at length, with the most
natural air in the world, just as if he had really been forgetful of some
half-discussed subject of interest.

"Of what you'd a d---d deal better hold your tongue about," growled out
Mr. Wilkins, in a surly thick voice.

"Sir!" said Ralph, starting to his feet with real passion at being so
addressed by "Wilkins the attorney."

"Yes," continued the latter, "I'll manage my own affairs, and allow of no
meddling and no questioning. I said so once before, and I was not minded
and bad came of it; and now I say it again. And if you're to come here
and put impertinent questions, and stare at me as you've been doing this
half-hour past, why, the sooner you leave this house the better!"

Ralph half turned to take him at his word, and go at once; but then he
"gave Ellinor another chance," as he worded it in his thoughts; but it
was in no spirit of concilia