e--that's true!" Clodagh exclaimed quickly. "Won't
you come in, Mr. Milbanke?" she added. "You know how welcome you are."

Once inside the hall, she turned to him quickly and confidingly.

"I can never forget that you've done this," she said. "It's a really,
really generous thing. But all my mind is full of father. You can
understand, can't you?"

Her agitation, her alarm, her evident helplessness in presence of a
contingency never previously faced, all touched him deeply. His tone
was low and gentle as he responded.

"I understand perfectly--perfectly," he said. "Poor Denis! Poor Denis!
How did the thing occur?"

"Oh, just an accident--just an accident. About six months ago he took a
fancy for riding late at night. He used to ride for miles along the
most dangerous paths of the cliff. I knew it wasn't safe; I said so
over and over again. But you know father!" She gave a little hopeless
shake of her head. "On Monday night he saddled one of the young horses
at about ten o'clock, and went out by himself. It came to twelve and he
hadn't returned. Then we began to get uneasy, and at one o'clock we
started to look for him. After a search all along the cliff, we found
him wedged between two of the upper ledges of the rocks,
terribly--terribly hurt." She shuddered palpably at the recollection.
"We didn't know--we don't know even now--quite how it happened. But we
think the horse must have lost his footing and fallen over the cliff,
throwing father; for the poor thing was found dead on the shingle next
morning. 'Twas a miracle that father escaped with his life, but he's
terribly injured."

She paused again, as though the subject was too painful to be pursued.

Milbanke looked at her compassionately.

"Has he had proper medical advice?" he asked.

"Oh yes! Doctor Gallagher from Carrigmore has done everything, and we
have a trained nurse from Waterford."

"That's right. I must have a talk with the doctor. But how is Denis
now? Will he know me, do you think?"

"Oh yes! Ever since the first night he has been quite conscious. He
expects you. He's longing to see you."

"Then may I go to him?"

Clodagh nodded; and, turning, led the way silently up the remembered
staircase. On the landing, the recollection of their curious interview
on his first night at Orristown recurred forcibly to Milbanke. He
glanced at his guide to see if it had any place in her mind; but her
thoughts were evidently full of other things. With a qu