"We motor over every Saturday with our uncle when he goes to take surgery. Do _you_ know it?" "I used to when I was a boy. I haven't seen it now though for a matter of fourteen year or so. I dare say it's changed." "I don't believe it has much. People say it's just the same as it always was. You must make haste and get well, and we'll ask Uncle to take you there for a drive when you're able to get out of hospital." "Ah--when?" echoed the clown, closing his eyes. He was restless, and seemed in much pain. Dr. Tremayne came in later and examined him, and gave him morphia. Sister's report the next morning was unfavourable. His temperature was very high, and his pulse was fluttering. "I'm sorry I shan't be about to-day," said Dr. Tremayne. "I'm obliged to go over to Halford to perform some eye operations at the hospital. I don't suppose I shall be back till nine o'clock. I'll leave the hypodermic syringe and if he needs it give him another dose of morphia. We've done the best we can, but it's an anxious case all the same." Mavis and Merle were detained after tea that day, and could not go round to the hospital until about six o'clock. Sister greeted them with relief. "I've kept expecting you, and was going to send you a message if you didn't come," she said. "He keeps asking for you all the time. He's gone downhill rapidly to-day, poor fellow. He's sinking fast, and I don't believe he'll ever see the night through. He's wandering a little in his head, and he says you two know Chagmouth, and he wants to speak to you. I'll tell him you've come." Very gently the girls entered the ward where the patient was lying. The signs of a great approaching change were on him. The hands that little more than a week ago had grasped the trapeze so strongly now lay white and frail on the counterpane. His face was shrunken, and his eyes held the far-away look of one who is beginning to sight things beyond our earthly plane of vision. He smiled feebly at Mavis and Merle, and tried to raise his head. Sister lifted him a little and propped him up with an extra pillow. "You know Chagmouth?" he whispered. "Yes! Yes!" Mavis was stooping down beside his bed. "Is Mrs. Jarvis still living there--the nurse?" "Yes, we sometimes see her. She's postwoman now." "Could you fetch her here? To-night?" "We'll try!" "Tell her it's Jerry as wants her--her boy Jerry! She'll understand!" "We'll bring her somehow, don't you worry," said Merle. "I'm slipping west, and I'd like a word with her afore I go. You've been so kind--I thought I might ask you to do that for me." His breath came in gasps. His face was drawn with a spasm of pain. Sister took the girls quietly aside. "If there's anything you can do for him, you'd better do it," she said. "I don't think he'll last the night."