, slowly, "my big-hearted son. I am going to die, Roger," he said.

"No, father, no!"

"Yes, Roger, 'twill soon be over. Only a few hours at most. I have
met with an accident, my boy. I was riding from Truro, and got near
home, when three men, who had been drinking hard at the tavern near by,
came out from the hedgeside and frightened Bess; she is a very flighty
mare, you know. She gave a side leap and threw me. My foot caught in
the stirrup, and I was dragged along the road until I fancy the mare
trod on me."

He said this quite calmly, as though it were a matter of everyday
occurrence. As for me, I could not speak, my heart was nearly bursting
with pain.

"I want to say a few more things to you before I die, my own boy," he
continued, slowly.

"Say what you will, father, but don't talk of dying. Surely, surely,
the doctor here can make you well again."

"No, no, Roger, no doctor can cure me," and he looked wistfully into
the doctor's face, who shook his head sadly. Then I felt sure that my
father's words would come true; that soon I should lose him.

The doctor felt his pulse; then said that what my father wished to tell
me must be told quickly.

"Yes, yes," said my father. "You, Roger, are my first-born, my own
boy," and again he lingered lovingly over the words.

"Your own boy," I repeated, proudly.

"You are Trewinion's heir," he continued, "the master of all the
Trewinion lands. You remember what I told you years ago, my boy?"

"Yes, father."

"Ever remember them, Roger. Be careful."

"I will, father."

"There were other things in connexion with the history of our people
that I meant to tell you, but I kept putting it off, and now it's too
late; but perhaps it's as well as it is. You will find them out in
time. God grant you may be prepared. What I want to say now refers to
Wilfred, and to Ruth Morton."

I scarcely breathed. I thought I should hear something that would make
clear my future relation to Ruth, and would clear up the mystery that I
felt existed in regard to my brother and myself.

"Wilfred----" he hesitated a moment, and then his eyes sought my
mother's. Instantly she came to his side, and looked at him strangely.
He heaved a sigh, and continued:

"Wilfred is younger than you, and does not by law inherit any of the
Trewinion lands. I have left him money, however, and given him a good
education, still----"

"What, dear father?"

"I fancy he thinks himself har