"He is not overstrong, to be sure, but the contusions are slight; he will be out of that bed in a fortnight." "How did he fall ?" But while they told him he scarcely heard; he was looking at the handsome Antinous-like form of the lad as it lay stretched helpless and stricken before him; and he was remembering the death-bed of their mother, when the only voice he had ever reverenced had whispered, as she pointed to the little child of three summers: "When you are a man take care of him, Bertie." How had he fulfilled the injunction?
Into how much brilliantly tinted evil had he not led him--by example, at least?
The surgeon touched his arm apologetically, after a lengthened silence: "Your brother will be best unexcited when he comes to himself, sir; look--his eyes are unclosing now.

Could you do me the favor to go to his lordship?
His grief made him perfectly wild--so dangerous to his life at his age.

We could only persuade him to retire, a few minutes ago, on the plea of Mr.Berkeley's safety.

If you could see him----" Cecil went, mechanically almost, and with a grave, weary depression on him; he was so unaccustomed to think at all, so utterly unaccustomed to think painfully, that he scarcely knew what ailed him.

Had he had his old tact about him, he would have known how worse than useless it would be for him to seek his father in such a moment.
Lord Royallieu was lying back exhausted as Cecil opened the door of his private apartments, heavily darkened and heavily perfumed; at the turn of the lock he started up eagerly.
"What news of him ?" "Good news, I hope," said Cecil gently, as he came forward.