But on reaching the cottage again, his spirits revived.
Seated in his accustomed chair, he smiled as the little dog, Charlie, jumped on his knee, and peered with a comically affectionate gravity into his face.
"Asking me how I am, aren't you, Charlie!" he said, cheerfully--"I'm all right, wee man!--all right!" Apparently Charlie was not quite sure about it, for he declined to be removed from the position he had chosen, and snuggling close down on his master's lap, curled himself up in a silky ball and went to sleep, now and then opening a soft dark eye to show that his slumbers were not so profound as they seemed.
That evening when Angus had gone, after saying a prolonged good-night to Mary in the little scented garden under the lovely radiance of an almost full moon, Helmsley called her to his side.
"Mary!" She came at once, and put her arm around him.

He looked up at her, smiling.
"You think I'm very tired, I know," he said--"But I'm not.

I--I want to say a word to you." Still keeping her arm round him, she patted his shoulder gently.
"Yes, David! What is it ?" "It is just this.

You know I told you I had some papers that I valued, locked away in the little cupboard in my room ?" "Yes.

I know." "Well now,--when--when I die--will you promise me to take these papers yourself to the address that is written on them?
That's all I ask of you! Will you ?" "Of course I will!" she said, readily--"You know you've kept the key yourself since you got well from your bad fever last year----" "There is the key," he said, drawing it from his pocket, and holding it up to her--"Take it now!" "But why now---- ?" she began.
"Because I wish it!" he answered, with a slight touch of obstinacy--then, smiling rather wistfully, he added, "It will comfort me to know you have it in your own possession.