“Can't you stay to finish this bottle, Dill?” said the Admiral, who had not heard for whom he had been sent. “I fear not, sir. It is a long row down to the cottage.” “So it 's poor Barrington again! I 'm sincerely sorry for it! And now I 'll not ask you to delay. By the way, take my boat. Elwes,” said he to the servant, “tell the men to get the boat ready at once for Dr. Dill, and come and say when it is so.” The doctor's gratitude was profuse, though probably a dim vista of the “tip” that might be expected from him detracted from the fulness of the enjoyment. “Find out if I could be of any use, Dill,” whispered the Admiral, as the doctor arose. “Your own tact will show if there be anything I could do. You understand me; I have the deepest regard for old Barrington, and his sister too.” Dill promised to give his most delicate attention to the point, and departed. While this little incident was occurring, Stapylton, who sat at an angle of the fireplace, was amusing two or three listeners by an account of his intended dinner at the “Home,” and the haughty refusal of Miss Barrington to receive him. “You must tell Sir Charles the story!” cried out Mr. Bushe. “He'll soon recognize the old Major from your imitation of him.” “Hang the old villain! he shot a dog-fox the other morning, and he knows well how scarce they are getting in the country,” said another. “I 'll never forgive myself for letting him have a lease of that place,” said a third; “he's a disgrace to the neighborhood.” “You're not talking of Barrington, surely,” called out Sir Charles. “Of course not. I was speaking of M'Cormick. Harrington is another stamp of man, and here's his good health!” “He'll need all your best wishes, Jack,” said the host, “for Dr. Dill has just been called away to see him.” “To see old Peter! Why, I never knew him to have a day's illness!” “He's dangerously ill now,” said the Admiral, gravely. “Dill tells me that he came home from the Assizes hale and hearty, in high spirits at some verdict in his favor, and brought back the Attorney-General to spend a day or two with him; but that, on arriving, he found a young fellow whose father or grandfather--for I have n't it correctly--had been concerned in some way against George Barrington, and that high words passed between old Peter and this youth, who was turned out on the spot, while poor Barrington, overcome by emotion, was struck down with a sort of paralysis. As I have said, I don't know the story accurately, for even Dill himself only picked it up from the servants at the cottage, neither Miss Barrington nor Withering having told him one word on the subject.” “That is the very same story I heard at the village where we dined,” broke in Stapylton, “and M'Cormick added that he remembered the name. Conyers--the young man is called Conyers--did occur in a certain famous accusation against Colonel Barrington.”