'There will be a change one way or another before long, and I shall not leave you by yourself to-night,' he said quietly; and in my heart I was not sorry to hear this.

He told me that there was a good fire downstairs, and that he meant to take possession of a very comfortable arm-chair, but that he wanted to remain in the sick-room for half an hour or so.
I fancied that his professional eyes had already detected some change.
Presently he walked away to the fireplace and stood looking down into the flames in rather an absent way.
I could not help looking at him once or twice, he seemed so absorbed in thought; his dark face looked rigid, his lips firmly closed, and his forehead slightly puckered.
More than once I had puzzled myself over a fancied resemblance of Mr.
Hamilton to some picture I had seen.

All at once I remembered the subject.

It was the picture of a young Christian sleeping peacefully just before he was called to his combat with wild beasts in the amphitheatre: the keeper was even then opening the door: the lions were waiting for their prey.

The face was boyish, but still Mr.Hamilton reminded me of him.