"My boy--my boy--old friend----" The cry of the classmate was like that of a mother, for it was his old idol and hero who lay helpless and broken before him.
The brougham lamps and the apathetic sparks of the cab gleamed in front of the hospital till daylight.

Two other pairs of lamps joined them in the earliest of the small hours, these subjoined to two deep-hooded phaetons, from each of which quickly descended a gentleman with a beard, an air of eminence, and a small, ominous black box.

The air of eminence was justified by the haste with which Meredith had sent for them, and by their wide repute.

They arrived almost simultaneously, and hastily shook hands as they made their way to the ward down the long hall and up the narrow corridor.

They had a short conversation with Gay and a word with the nurse, then turned the others out of the room by a practiced innuendo of manner.