At noon Meredith sent a second telegram to Helen, as barren of detail as the first: he was alive--was a little improved.

This telegram did not reach her, for she was on the way to Rouen, and half of the population of Carlow--at least, so it appeared to the unhappy conductor of the accommodation--was with her.
They seemed to feel that they could camp in the hospital halls and corridors, and they were an incalculable worry to the authorities.

More came on every train, and nearly all brought flowers, and jelly, and chickens for preparing broth, and they insisted that the two latter delicacies be fed to the patient at once.

Meredith was possessed by an unaccountable responsibility for them all, and invited a great many to stay at his own house.

They were still in ignorance of the truth about the Cross-Roads, and some of them spent the day (it was Sunday) in planning an assault upon the Rouen jail for the purpose of lynching Slattery in case Harkless's condition did not improve at once.