The herald., 1896-08-16

train was coming. The dog g-cart was wait
ing for me at Ayshurst, and one glance at
the face of the man who drove it was
enough to make me ask him what was
wrong at Sinden. He told me that there
had been a bad accident, that Philip had
been terribly hurt, and that it was very
doubtful whether he would still be alive on
my arrival. The man drove hard. and there
was no time to tell me the details before
we were at the door of the house.
The door was opened at once before I
could knock or ring, not by Carter but by
an old gentleman with his cuffs turned back.
He was sef-possessed, but he spoke quick
ly. "Mr. Derrimer?"
eyes. You are the doctor?"
81 am Dr. Ingwold You are just in time.
He says that he cannot die until he has
seen you.'
There is no hope?"
"None. There never has beenI have been
here since the early morning when 1t hap
pened, but can only make the pain rather
less for him. You had better go into him at
once"
"Yes" I went towards the staircase.
The doctor touched me on the shoulder.
Not upstairs" he said He is in the
study. 1t would have been cruelty to car
ry him any further than was necessary"
We went down passage to the study.
AT the door the doctor said:
'There is nurse there, but she will
come and wait outside with me. He was
conscious when l left him."
Within / heard faint repeated groan.
l entered the room. A bed had been put
there. and the nurse was just turning away
from it with glass in her hand. Little
details in the room seemed as If they would
be noticed by me even against my will.
There was a black morocco handbag on
the table, bearing the initials r. II. |. in gilt.
l found myself puzzled, and then deciding
that it must belong to the doctor There
was faint smell of some anaesthetic-I
wondered what it was. | noticed a grotes-
que design in vermillion on an old brown
leather screen-Was surprised that every
thing was in order and that the room was
50 little changed. All this passed through
my mind in a second as I stepped from the
door to the bedside. The nurse came up
to me, and asked me TO go quite close to
the bed so that he need only spe2., in
whisper. Then she slipped out Ct the
room.
Philip lay on the bed. There was only
sheet over him. His torn and broken
body could not bear the weight Of heavy
bed-clothes. A bandage over his forehead
had fantastic effect like turban. There
was death III his face and death In his
changed voice. He did not move, but his
eyes turned to me.
Thank you for having come, Edward.
Everything else is settled-I waited only to
see you. l wanted to ask you if you would
be Wilmay's guardian"
eyes. You should have been sure OF
that
Il was, but l wanted to ask it. And
you'll do the best you can for her."
"All that I can.
"That's good of you. She was here
little while ago, but wouldn't let her stay
scenes like this aren't-we just said good
oye. You take charge of everything All
papers are in the safe in the library and
Mrs. Blayd will give you the keys" There
was long pause, and then he said: I'm
80 sorry that l cannot give you my hand"
could not answer. l put one hand light
ly on his shoulder, watching his face to be
sure that it did not hurt him. He seemed
to become drowsy, his eyes closed and
do not think he knew any longer that 1 was
In the room. His voice was much weaker;
he spoke at intervals but did not always
hear what he said. Once / caught the
words-"A long day." and afterwards, "and
then it becomes much more quiet" Some
times I heard Wilmay's name. He may
have thought that he was speaking to her
Then his Fps moved no more, and in the