with a sudden cry, why, it's pouring! Good heavens! what shall we do?" "This," said Matilda. ell, "What are you doing?" said Overton, in a low voice. Poor fellow, he was frightened now. "She is doing me a service," replied Challoner for her; "Lady Matilda is pressing her fingers into the vein to stop the circulation, and if she can only hold on" CHAPTER XI. CHALLONER IS IMPATIENT TO BE GONE. "The latent mischief from his heart to tear." PRIOR. Her face had paled, but it was not the pallor of inertion; in a second she had with her own hands and Teddy's help UNDER the skilful treatment of the viltorn off Challoner's coat, and sprung upon lage apothecary, a man of high repute in his arm, feeling for the pulse above the his own sphere, and renowned for many a elbow joint, as before indicated by Whew-long-winded diagnosis, Challoner's wound holding it, when found, with the grip soon assumed a less serious aspect. But another difficulty now arose. He was ordered to bed — not to bed for the night, as was reasonable enough, and agreeable enough to his inclinations, but to stay in bed until seen and interviewed the next day; and this could only be hearkened to with ridicule and impatient contempt. But what, then, was the dismay of the scoffer, and the delight and importance of our friend Teddy, when the command that had been thus wantonly maltreated when it issued from Dr. Hitchin's lips, had to be obeyed from very stress of adverse circumstances! The next morning found Challoner hot and cold, coughing and shivering, and although still unwilling to own as much, by no means so obdurate as the night before. He would at least lie still for an hour or two: he had · yes, he certainly had taken a little chili; and perhaps, as the day was wet, and nothing could be done out of doors, being Sunday, he might as well submit to be coddled up, so as to be all right on Monday. "I can I shall." "It is indeed kind; " but the speaker did not proceed. It was kind- no one could say it was not kind; but it was annoying and vexatious that he should need such kindness. It was difficult to know what to say, where complaints would have been ungracious, but where too much gratitude would have been absurd. The situation had been forced upon his entertainers: nothing had been voluntary on their part, and this no one could have felt more keenly than the recipient, the Challoner who had sat silent and still, left to himself the whole evening, uncared for and unnoticed. To be sure, Overton had drawn his chair up a few yards off, and Overton had been equally at leisure; but there the good-fellowship for the nonce had ended, while neither Teddy nor Matilda had done for him a thing. To have Teddy now passionately pacing up and down the room on his account! To have Matilda kneeling by his side! He bit his lip, and quiet man as he was, almost cursed the situation in his heart. However, there the situation was, and nothing could improve it: and ages indeed it seemed before the sharp, imperative summons of the door-bell announced the welcome arrival - come, indeed, as soon as any reasonable mortals could have expected, and as fast as Dr. Hitchin's horse could go; and all that weary while Matilda knelt bravely on, never changing her position, nor relaxing her hold, but taking no part in the brief dialogues that from time to time were interchanged among the other three, and only now and then drawing unconsciously a long, deep breath, and stealing a furtive glance at the clock. But Monday came, and he was by no means all right; throat and chest were sore, his head was aching, and he sneezed in the doctor's face even while making solemn declaration of his innocence. The truth was, that scarcely any living man could have escaped scot-free who had done what Challoner had done: he had stood and without his coat, be it remembered full in the icy current let in by the broken window for upwards of twenty minutes, while Whewell attended to his hand and wrist; and he had just come out of a well-warmed room, a rather over-warm room, into which no draught ever by any chance penetrated, and he had lost some blood. He could hardly have been human, and not have caught cold; and this was precisely what he had done. He had caught cold—nothing more; but nothing more was needed. The cold had attacked both throat and chest, and there was no doubt about it. To get up and take his departure was not to be thought of; he must give in, stop where he was, and play the invalid. A more reluctant or pugnacious invalid Dr. Hitchin had never before had to deal with. What! stay on at Overton, and on and on at Overton, and that not for two days or three days, but "till he was better," horrible indefinite term! - obtrude himself in a manner so unseemly on strangers, utter strangers, and demand and wrench from them, as it were, their sympathy and their hospitality? Not he. It could not be done. The doctor must understand, once for all, that he, the patient, had got to be made well somehow in another day or so,—well enough, at any rate, to leave the Hall, and no longer trouble people upon whom he had no sort of claim, and to whose house he had merely come to dine by chance. he was biassed by certain considerations in his view of the case that he made the worst of the accident, and the most of his opportunity; but it ought to be borne in mind that, as a medical man - as the medical man of the neighborhood, the sole physician, accoucheur, surgeon, and apothecary of anywhere about short of Seaburgh itself - he had been hardly used by the Overtons. Lady Matilda was never ill, neither were her brothers. Their rude health and hardihood braved every kind of weather, and laughed at every sort of disease; they were by circumstances placed above the reach of almost every form of infection; they could not be accused, even by their dearest friends, of overtasking their brains; and they did not know what nerves were. His only chance lay in an accident; and so far, accidents had been few and far between. "Yet," pondered he, "they ride the most dangerous animals going." But then Dr. Hitchin's ideas of a dangerous animal differed from those of Teddy and Matilda. "Bless my life, surely it was a lucky chance then!" cried the amazed Hitchin in his heart. "One would think these were snug enough quarters for any dainty fellow to be laid up in: everything he can possibly want; fine old place, fine company - -a nice, amusing, idle young fellow like Teddy, and the earl is not half so, However, one thing was certain, that black as he's painted. Ay, and Lady scarcely ever since the good doctor had Matilda. And Lady-Matilda," pro- established himself in those parts, had he ceeded the old gentleman slowly. "Ah been called in to attend any one at the dear! times are changed with the young Hall; and indeed, on the rare occasions folks nowadays. What would I not have when this privilege had been accorded given twenty years ago for the chance of him, and he and his Bobby had had the being nursed up and, looked after by a felicity of turning in at the avenue gate, Lady Matilda! A fine woman, a fine it had been invariably on the behoof of a stately beauty of the rare old type - not housemaid or kitchen-maid whose ailment the trumpery pretty miss, with a turned- did not even necessitate his drawing rein up nose and freckles, who passes as a at the front door. Even Lotta had got belle in these times. Lady Matilda never through her full share of childish comlooks amiss; I have never seen her look plaints before his day, and nothing had amiss, at any rate, and I meet her out and remained for him but the dregs of the about in all sorts of winds, and in all sorts whooping-cough, which dregs had done of old clothes. What would the man him no credit, and given him considerable have? What does it all mean? I can't trouble. enter his room, but he begins with his 'When shall I be up, doctor? Can't I go away to-morrow, doctor? '— plaguing my life out, and running, certainly running a very decided risk, by thus fretting and irritating the mucous membrane into the -bargain. What is he up to, that Challoner?" suddenly cried the little sage, knitting his wiry brows; "he is either a deep one and has his own reasons Aha! Is it Lady Matilda after all, I won der?" But he kept a tight hand on the patient all the same. Now we would not for a moment cast a slur on Hitchin, and it is not to be supposed that in the few remarks we feel called upon to make below, that we infer He had not soon been summoned again; and indeed it was now several years since he had even been within the park, farther than to skirt along the high slope above the house, where was a road free to all, and used as a short cut by any one who chose. All of this being thus explained, and it being also understood that Dr. Hitchin knew tolerably well all the outs and ins of the family, and had, in common with the rest of the little world about, studied their ways and humors for a considerable length of time, the judicious reader will at once be able, according to the charity that in him or her lies, to determine how ill Challoner really was. Very ill he was not, or he would have been more meek. And he was not meek not by any means. True, he said but little, and gave utterance to not a syllable of complaint, but his air was restive and disdainful; he received instructions and prescriptions with a smile that was worse than words; and though he did not ac tually dare to disobey orders, though he put out his tongue when told, and even submitted to the indignity of having a glass tube thrust under it, and having to sit still with the ridiculous thing sticking out of his grave mouth for two full minutes, he did it all with what at least was no enthusiasm, and received the report of his stomach, his pulse, and his temperature as if they had severally belonged to some one else. Such apathy was almost too much even for the cheerful little doctor; but there was one person whom it suited to a nicety - one member of the household who got on better with Challoner than he had ever done with any mortal in his life before and that was Lord Overton. Overton had found a man who could hold his tongue, and yet be happy. He had at last by good hap hit upon a fellow-creature who would sit as still, smoke as long, and say as little as he did himself; he had at length met with some one who paid him no court, gave him no trouble, put forth no effort for his amusement, no solicitude for his comfort, and who expected, in return for all this forbearance, this priceless moderation, sim. ply nothing. When he had said his Good morning," and "Hope you're better?" each day, he could sit down just where he liked, in the worst chair and the worst part of the room if he chose, and Challoner would barely turn his head to see where he was or what he was doing. He would pull out his own cigar; he would hunt up his own match, and pass it on, no one resenting his rising and moving to do so; he would poke the fire Robert Hanwell would have had his hair standing on end had he witnessed the indifference with which Challoner permitted his distinguished companion to handle his own poker and tongs, once he found that Overton liked doing so, he would sit on and on in peace and comfort, no one thinking it necessary to trouble with talking beyond a "Beastly wet," now and then, varied, perchance, with a "Bad for the farmers," each of which remarks, if originated by himself, would merely draw from the other an inarticulate civil sound, which was perfectly polite and pleasant, but which most men would have thought was hardly response sufficient for Lord Overton. Perhaps Challoner would vol. unteer the "Beastly wet," and Overton would nod the mute assent; perhaps they would both together originate the senti ment; perhaps one would see that the weather was about to improve, and the sky to clear, while the other considered that the rain was setting steadily in; perhaps one would narrate a brief, a very brief experience of country life, farmers shooting, or proprietary grievances; perhaps the other would cap the story with a better, — but however long they bore each other company, and whatever they agreed upon or differed upon, one thing was plain, they were on the best of terms. Lady Matilda jested about the strange pair who, thus thrown at haphazard together, fitted like a pair of gloves; and my lord's predilection for Mr. Challoner, and the length of time my lord passed in the sick room, made the invalid's beef-tea several degrees stronger and more grateful to the palate than it would have been had Mr. Edward only been there to see. Nobody told Lord Overton a word of Challoner's impatience to be at libertynaturally nobody would; and indeed the principal person who could, was the least likely of all to whisper a hint of the kind, since Dr. Hitchin knew better than to breed mischief at any time, especially such mischief as must have been detrimental to his own interests. Greatly was he pleased with the alliance between the two odd-come-shorts. (It was Matilda who styled them the odd-comeshorts, and who stuck to the term in spite of Teddy's representation that whatever might be said of Overton, it was rough on Challoner to be bracketed with him, without being given a chance of showing what he was or what he could be.) Lady Matilda openly smiled in the doctor's face when he announced that Lord Overton was excellent company for Mr. Challoner. She was quite willing that he should be, more than willing-charmed, delighted; but it showed her one thingnamely this, that any one who could be thus enamored of her dear excellent elder brother's dumb show of good-fellowship could be of no earthly good to her: she must look elsewhere for a kindred spirit. At length Dr. Hitchin suffered himself to be persuaded into a decree that his patient might be moved into another room, into the drawing-room, or still better into the sunny little boudoir — Lady Matilda's boudoir - which was on the same floor, and had a southern aspect. No going up and down stairs at first, | as nearly as ever man had. I would not no draughts, no chills. "You just go to alarm any one at the time, but it has been Lady Matilda's room by-and-by, when the a close shave a very close shave; a lit windows are shut, and there is a good fire tle more would have done it—just as -that is to say, if her ladyship will be much more," turning to Teddy, "as Mr. good enough to grant permission," with a Challoner wanted to do. Ah, young men, little bow and wave of the hand to Teddy, young men !" who was supposed to represent his sister at any time she might be apart from him. "Ask Lady Matilda Challoner lifted his head, as though about to speak. - "Pooh!" said Challoner; but two things in the last speech softened his contempt. He liked who does not ? to have it thought he had been ill; also he liked being called a young man. he was deep chest and a long arm, honestly looked his admiration, and could not comprehend the gleam of satisfaction which stole athwart Challoner's brow, where already a dash of grey had mingled with the thick dark locks on the temple. "Pooh!" said the poor fellow, but he smiled-for almost the first time that day he smiled; something in his own thoughts had pleased him as Hitchin spoke. "My compliments to Lady Matilda," He was not a very young man — proceeded the good doctor, not noticing just at the age when a man may be young this, "and will she be charitable enough or not; but Dr. Hitchin, who reverenced -eh? is that the phrase, eh?" smiling muscle and sinew, height and breadth, a jovially, "charitable enough to harbor this poor patient of mine for a few hours in her delightful haven of refuge, eh, sir? Hum, eh? Haven of refuge, eh? You will have drifted into as snug a haven of refuge as ever mariner did if you get taken in there, Mr. Challoner, I can assure you. Ha! ha! ha! Good anchorage for any man. I remember the room well," suddenly resuming a matter-of-fact tone, as the two unresponsive faces before him showed no appreciation of his slyness, "No disrespect to Lord Overton or Mr. "I remember its aspect, and recommend- Edward here," proceeded the doctor presing it for Miss Lotta- Mrs. Hanwellently; "but you will be glad to vary your after her severe attack of whooping cough. society a little. Lady Matilda — (what the She could not throw off the cough, and I mischief is the meaning of this now?" was obliged to keep her almost entirely to internally. "No sooner do I mention her mother's boudoir. It was a charming Lady Matilda than my gentleman looks convalescent home - convalescent home, black as thunder at me. Her ladyship I called it then, to amuse the little girl been snubbing him, eh? Can that be it, and it appears it must do duty for a con- I wonder?) And, Mr. Edward, get out a valescent home once more, Mr. Challoner. game of chess, or draughts, or something," You will find it most comfortable: ladies he continued aloud; "backgammon, eh? always contrive to make a home comfort or " able; their little odds and ends, work-baskets, and knick-knacks, are all additions in their way. Lady Matilda must find you something to do, my good sir; you are tired of being idle, and that is what makes you fancy yourself so ill "I! I fancy myself ill!" "Well, yes; you have felt yourself uncommonly ill, no doubt," replied the shameless doctor coolly; "very miserable, and feverish, and low, and that was the cause of your restless desire to get away from the Hall. Oh, I understood it all; you thought you were regularly in for it, and as you did not mean to lie up, you would fain have set off through fog and rain to travel all over the country, until you had developed a thorough paced fever. That was what you were up tɔ. Oh, don't tell me I know, I know; and let me tell you, my friend, that you had your desire "Penny Nap," cried Teddy joyously. "Cards? Ah, very good very good. Anything to amuse the mind. We used to play cribbage in my young days." "Matilda likes cribbage. I have to play with her; it's awfully slow, for she always beats me," said Teddy, with more interest than he had before displayed in the conversation. "I hate the counting, for she always manages to bag something from me, with all those fifteen twos' and rot. How is a fellow to remember that nine and six make fifteen, as well as seven and eight?" "Are you fond of whist?" It was a great moment for Hitchin. Whist was his strong point, and to make a fourth in a rubber at the Hall, or even to play with a dummy-for Lady Matilda was prob ably no great hand — would have been No, I hate it," said Teddy flatly. CHAPTER XII. TEDDY'S CONFIDENCES. "Each man has a measure of his own for everything." LAVATER. "For fools will prate; and though they want the wit To find close faults, yet open blots they hit." DRYDEN. HOPE was over in a moment, killed in the birth, or rather it might have been almost said to have been still-born, so few were its flickering seconds of existence. No whist-table in the library at the Hall, No Lord Overton for a partner, no reminiscences of the same on the morrow's rounds it had been but a passing vision, gone like a flash, and now there was again Only the useful Challoner to fall back upon. "There must not be too much talking, remember," Hitchin sighed, all doctor again. The bronchial tubes are still tender, and must not be excited. Talking irritates" "You need not be afraid of his talking," said Teddy bluntly; "he must talk in his sleep if he talks at all. At any rate, he never favors me; Overton is the only person who gets any change out of him, and a little goes a long way with Overton. He ain't particular. But the hand that fell on Challoner's shoulder was so hearty and kindly, and the charge was so freely and confidingly laid, that no one could have taken umbrage at it, and no one did. It was impossible not to like Teddy Lessingham when Teddy was good; and when he was not, why, then Matilda argued it was "only Teddy," only her poor, beautiful, whimsical she would not for the world have whispered "half-witted" - brother. He was, she would have maintained, perfectly sensible, perfectly rational, perfectly all that he should have been, when he was not vexed or sullen; it was only when thwarted or distressed, when he did not understand, and took things amiss, and was grieved and indignant, that Teddy was irresponsible: it was other people who roused the evil spirit in him; Teddy, let alone, would not have hurt a fly. And Teddy now quite looked upon himself as Challoner's friend. Overton was all very well, but Overton went for nothing beside two men of the world such as himself and Challoner: it was to him that Chailoner must look for everything that could make his enforced stay at the Hall endurable; and accordingly, "Well, now," cried he, as the doctor left the room" now, you see, there you are are! I said you would be all right in a few days if you would only hold on; and so you are all right-right as a trivet; and it is just a week to-day since - since last Saturday. This is Saturday again, you know. I dare say you didn't know, for there was nothing to tell you, unless it was the newspaper, and that says Friday, for to day's has not come yet, though the afternoon post will be here directly. I say, will you go to Matilda's now, or after a bit?" And some "I am such a nuisance." thing else was added indistinctly. "Oh, come, I like that," said Teddy. "When I have told you over and over again what a perfect godsend you are to us all, and me particularly! For I never have anybody hardly I mean any young fellows like myself. I don't know how it is, I am sure," with Teddy's puzzled look, that always made Matilda change the subject, "I don't know how I don't have more fellows about. I had lots of friends once I mean I have now, any number; but they don't come here. We don't ask them here; we forget, I suppose. A fellow can't be expected to remember everything, you know," he con. cluded, with his usual apology. "No, of course not," said Challoner dreamily. He had been thinking his own thoughts, and they had been of a nature |