I shall be going out presently, but we shall meet to-night, or if not to-night, certainly to-morrow.

Take care of yourself in the mean time, for both our sakes.

You are a person of great consequence to me, Ned--of vast consequence indeed.

God bless you!' With these words, the father, who had been arranging his cravat in the glass, while he uttered them in a disconnected careless manner, withdrew, humming a tune as he went.

The son, who had appeared so lost in thought as not to hear or understand them, remained quite still and silent.