careful of yourself than you generally are, and let me hear often.
In a few months' time we shall be able to spend pleasant hours on
the Castle Hill. I have heard from Patty, and want to tell you about
her letter, but this cold makes me feel too stupid Will write again
soon."

It happened that Hilliard himself was just now blind and voiceless
with a catarrh. The news from Dudley by no means solaced him. He
crouched over his fire through the long, black day, tormented with
many miseries, and at eventide drank half a bottle of whisky, piping
hot, which at least assured him of a night's sleep.

Just to see what would be the result of his silence, he wrote no
reply to this letter. A fortnight elapsed; he strengthened himself
in stubbornness, aided by the catarrh, which many bottles of whisky
would not overcome. When his solitary confinement grew at length
insufferable, he sent for Narramore, and had not long to wait before
his friend appeared. Narramore was rosy as ever: satisfaction with
life beamed from his countenance.

"I've ordered you in some wine," he exclaimed genially, sinking into
the easy-chair which Hilliard had vacated for him--an instance of
selfishness in small things which did not affect his generosity in
greater. "It isn't easy to get good port nowadays, but they tell me
that this is not injurious. Hasn't young Birching been to see you?
No, I suppose he would think it _infra dig_. to come to this
neighbourhood. There's a damnable self-conceit in that family: you
must have noticed it, eh? It comes out very strongly in the girl.
By-the-bye I've done with her--haven't been there for three weeks,
and don't think I shall go again, unless it's for the pleasure of