“But, sir,” said Coventry, eagerly, “if one could prove to her that those were not the remains of Henry Little?”

“How could you prove that?  Besides, it would be no use now.  She is delirious.  Even should she live, I should forbid the subject for many a day.  Indeed, none but the man himself could make her believe those remains are not his; and even he could not save her now.  If he stood by her bedside, she would not know him.”

The doctor’s lip trembled a little, and his words were so grave and solemn that they struck to the miserable man’s marrow.  He staggered away, like a drunken man, to his lodgings, and there flung himself on the floor, and groveled in an agony of terror and remorse.

CHAPTER XXXV.

One day it occurred to Raby he could play the misanthrope just as well at home as abroad, so he returned home.

He found old Dence dead and buried, and Patty Dence gone to Australia with her husband.

He heard Jael was in the hospital.  He called at Woodbine villa, and they told him Grace was lying between life and death.

He called on Dr. Amboyne, and found him as sad as he used to be gay.  The doctor told him all, and even took him to the town hall, and showed him an arm and part of the trunk of a man preserved in spirits, and a piece of tweed cloth, and a plain gold ring.

“There,” said he, “is all that remains to us of your nephew, and my friend.  Genius, beauty, courage—­all come to this!” He could say no more.

The tears filled Raby’s eyes, and all his bitterness melted away.  With respect to his sister, he said he was quite willing to be reconciled, and even to own himself in the wrong, if Dr. Amboyne, on reading the correspondence, should think so.  Dr. Amboyne said he would come to Raby Hall for that purpose.  He communicated this at once to Mrs. Little.

Grace had a favorable crisis, and in a few days more she was out of danger, but in a deplorable state of weakness.  Dr. Amboyne ordered her to the sea-side.  A carriage was prepared expressly for her, and her father took her there.

Woodbine Villa was put up to let furnished, and it was taken by—­Mr. Coventry.

Jael Dence began to recover strength rapidly, but she wore at times a confused look.  The very day Grace left for Eastbank she was discharged as cured, and left the hospital.  This was in the morning.

In the afternoon Dr. Amboyne, being now relieved of his anxiety as to Grace, remembered he had not been to see this poor girl for some time; so he went to the hospital.

When he heard she was discharged, he felt annoyed with himself for not having paid her closer attention.  And besides, Grace had repeatedly told him Jael Dence could make a revelation if she chose.  And now, occupied with Grace herself, he had neglected her wishes.

“Where is she gone? do you know?”