"Mr. Blackburn nodded and entered the cell, I at his heels, much daunted by the cold and the gloom. It was a little while ere my eyes got used to the darkness, but as we entered I heard the clank of irons, and was aware of some form in the gloom rising in the corner from under the grated window. It was George; but oh! how altered! he was gaunt and thin, and his eyes that I have known so bright and lit by the joy of life, were dull and fixed in sick despair. I forgot the crime of which he stands charged and saw only a brother, nay, a son, suffering in mortal agony, and all my heart bled for him." "Poor George! Poor Matty," murmured my father, passing the back of his hand over his face, and Faith's eyes were fixed with pained intentness on the preacher's face, her lips pale and parted as she held her breath and waited on his every word. "'Mr. Webster!' he cried, for he could see better than I, being used doubtless to the little light. 'Mr. Webster, oh! this is good of you!' and he seemed to take no heed of Mr. Blackburn, and as well as he could for the irons that cribbed his arms, he stretched out his hands to me, oh! so wildly and so lovingly, and I took both his hands in mine and must have done tho' I had seen the deed with my own eyes. And George bowed his head, and tears fell upon our clasped hands that were not wholly his nor wholly mine, and I drew down his head and kissed him on the brow." "The good Lord bless yo'," sobbed Faith. "And Mr. Blackburn stood a little way off fumbling with his papers and taking snuff very rapidly and in great quantities." 'Have yo' seen mi mother lately?' asked George; 'does she bear up? Is she here in York?' "His first thoughts were of her, poor lad." "Yo' munnot forget to tell her that, Faith," said my father, and Faith nodded, and I know she did not forget, and it comforted my Aunt Matty in the after days. "I told him only you and Ben were here," continued Mr. Webster. "'Not Mary?' he asked, and I told him no. 'Better not, happen better not,' he said at last; but he seemed disappointed that Mary should not be here, I know not why." "Did he ask for me?" said Faith, very softly. "Nay," said Mr. Webster. "He did not ask for thee; but I told him yo' wer' here and would not be denied." "And what said he?" 'Faith! Faith Booth? Ah! poor John's sister. 'Oo'd over a tender heart, an' I loved her brother next to Ben.' "Yes, he loved my brother," said Faith, "but not as John loved him." And after that she was very silent; only once I heard her murmur to herself, "Yes, he loved mi brother."