He waved them aside, and they were contented to place themselves in such a position behind as might ensure against accident, should his newly-acquired strength decay as suddenly as it had revived.
"My dear Croftangry," he said, in the tone of kindness of other days, "I am glad to see you returned.

You find me but poorly; but my little niece here and Dr.-- are very kind.

God bless you, my dear friend! We shall not meet again till we meet in a better world." I pressed his extended hand to my lips--I pressed it to my bosom--I would fain have flung myself on my knees; but the doctor, leaving the patient to the young lady and the servant, who wheeled forward his chair, and were replacing him in it, hurried me out of the room.

"My dear sir," he said, "you ought to be satisfied; you have seen our poor invalid more like his former self than he has been for months, or than he may be perhaps again until all is over.

The whole Faculty could not have assured such an interval.