"My idea is that the two men were grappling together, and that as Mr.Thorndyke was a very powerful man, his assailant, who probably was approaching the bed with the dagger in his hand, plunged it into him; had he struck at him I should certainly have expected the course of the wound to be downward, as I fancy a man very seldom thrusts straight with a dagger, as he would do with a rapier." When the inquest was over, Mark, going out into the hall, found the doctor waiting there for him.
"Mr.Bastow breathed his last some ten minutes ago.

I saw when I went up to him just before I gave my evidence that it was likely that he would die before I returned to the room." "I am very sorry," Mark said, "although I expected nothing else from what you told me: He was a very kind hearted man; no one could have had a kinder or more patient tutor than he was to me, while my father regarded him as a very dear and valued friend.

I am expecting the undertaker here in a few minutes, and they can both be buried at the same time." It was late in the afternoon before Millicent came down with Mrs.
Cunningham.

The news of Mr.Bastow's death had set her tears flowing afresh; she had been very fond of him, and that he and the Squire should have been taken at once seemed almost beyond belief.

She had, however, nerved herself to some degree of composure before she went down to meet Mark; but although she returned the pressure of his hand, she was unable for some time to speak.