It shall not be the worse for you, if you leave it in my hands for a time." My lady spoke very kindly; but he was in too excited a state to recognize the kindness, while the idea of delay was evidently a sore irritation.

I heard him say: "And I have so little time in which to do my work.

Lord! lay not this sin to my charge." But my lady was speaking to the old butler, for whom, at her sign, I had rung the bell some little time before.

Now she turned round.
"Mr.Gray, I find I have some bottles of Malmsey, of the vintage of seventeen hundred and seventy-eight, yet left.

Malmsey, as perhaps you know, used to be considered a specific for coughs arising from weakness.
You must permit me to send you half-a-dozen bottles, and, depend upon it, you will take a more cheerful view of life and its duties before you have finished them, especially if you will be so kind as to see Dr.Trevor, who is coming to see me in the course of the week.