ay give him a little
rousing--just stimulate him sufficiently to allow of his being moved
into freer air."

"If that is the only hope, it has failed already," Mr. Strafford
answered, and told what had taken place.

"Then," said the doctor, "I give him up. I am afraid his life is just a
matter of days, perhaps of hours; but let me go and talk to him a
little, and then I will tell you my opinion."

He went to the bedside, and began talking in his brisk, cheerful way, to
his patient, who was now awake. It was evident, however, that the effort
to understand and remember was weaker even than it had been yesterday,
and that this was the effect of increased physical prostration. There
was no longer any fever to supply temporary strength; but life was dying
out quietly, but hopelessly.

Mr. Strafford still waited, with some anxiety, for the decisive
sentence. He had made up his mind that other questions beside and beyond
that of Christian's own fate might be made to depend upon it; and it
cannot be said truly that he felt much sorrow at the idea of its being
unfavourable. It was clear and decided enough, at any rate.

"He may live for two or three days. To attempt to move him would be only
to hasten his death."

"You are certain that there is no hope?"

"Not a shadow."

"Do you think it likely his mind will grow any clearer towards the
last?"

"I do not think it; in fact, it is extremely improbable. You see, his
wandering is simply the result of weakness; as the weakness increases,
the mental faculties will probably cease gradually to act at all. One
can't, of course, say positively when; if he becomes quite unconscious
to-night, death will probably follow in the course of the next
twenty-four hours."

"Poor fellow! There is little, then, that can be done for him?"

"Next to nothing. He wants a nurse to give him some little nourishment
when he wakes up, and that is pretty nearly all."

"I shall bring him the best possible nurse," Mr. Strafford said. "Mrs.
Costello wishes to come and remain here."

The doctor looked at him curiously.

"Mrs. Costello is my patient also," he said; "I am half inclined to
forbid her coming."

"She is your patient, doctor! How is that? I thought she was looking
ill, though she denies it."

"She is not ill; but as you are an old friend and adviser, I don't mind
telling you that her health is in a critical state, and that I have
forbidden her all excitement and fatigue." 'Much use