At a very early hour of the next morning, Walter Dinsmore was roused from his slumbers by, a knock at his door.
"Who's there?" he asked, starting up in bed.
"I, Walter," answered a well-known voice, and with a joyful exclamation he sprang to the door, and opened it.
"Horace! how glad I am to see you! I hardly dared hope you could get here so soon."
"Your news was of the sort to hasten a man's movements," returned Mr. Dinsmore, holding the lad's hand in a warm brotherly grasp. "How are you? and how's Arthur now?"
"About the same. Hark! you may hear him moaning and muttering. This is our study. I have had that cot-bed brought in here, and given up the bedroom to him and the nurse; though I'm with him a good deal too."
"You have a good nurse, and the best medical advice?"
"You must see that he has every comfort, Walter; let no expense be spared, nothing left undone that may alleviate his sufferings or assist his recovery. What is the physician's opinion of the case?"
"He is not very communicative to me; may be more so to you. You'll stay and see him when he calls, won't you?"
"What time? I must be off again by the first train. I want to reach Lansdale to-morrow."
"It will give you time to do that. He calls early."
"Now take me to Arthur; and then I must see that letter, and hear all you have to tell me in regard to that matter."
"What does Elsie say?" asked Walter, with intense interest; "do you think she cares for him?"
"I'm afraid she does," and Mr. Dinsmore shook his head sadly.
"Certainly not; 'twould be to entail upon her a life of misery."
"It's her fortune he's after, that's evident, and indeed I would hurry to Lansdale, if I were you, lest they might take it into their heads to elope. Such a shame as it would be for him to get her--the dear, sweet darling!"
"I have no fear that Elsie could ever be so lost to her sense of filial duty; nor, I am sure, have you, Walter," answered Mr. Dinsmore gravely.
"No, Horace; and it's the greatest relief and comfort to me just now to know how truly obedient and affectionate she is to you."
Horace Dinsmore omitted nothing that he could do to add to the comfort of his brothers, saw the physician and learned from him that he had good hopes of a naturally vigorous constitution bringing Arthur safely through the attack from which he was suffering, examined the evidence Walter was able to furnish that Bromly Egerton and Tom Jackson were one and the same--a man in whom every vice abounded--found time to show an interest in Walter's studies and pastimes, and was ready to leave by the train of which he had spoken.