Now he must prepare his message for the ladies at Ardkill,--especially to the lady whom on his last visit to the cottage he had found armed with a dagger for the reception of her husband.

And as he returned back to the barracks it occurred to him that a messenger might be better than a letter.
"Simpkinson," he said, going at once into the young man's bed-room, "have you heard what has happened to me ?" Simpkinson had heard all about it, and expressed himself as "deucedly sorry" for the old man's death, but seemed to think that there might be consolation for that sorrow.

"I must go to Scroope immediately," said Neville.

"I have explained it all to Johnstone, and shall start almost at once.

I shall first lie down and get an hour's sleep.