But he was very miserable, very miserable indeed. It was not so much the sense of fear, of pain, of disappointment that disturbed him now, it was the misery of a fettered conscience, the shadow of an ever present shame. Finally the door was opened and Bachelor Billy stepped out. "Good mornin', Uncle Billy," said the boy, trying to speak cheerfully. "Gude mornin' till ye, Ralph! Ye're up airly the mornin'. I mak' free to say ye're a-feelin' better." "Yes, I am. I didn't sleep very well, but I'm better this mornin'. I wisht it was all over with--the trial I mean; you see it's a-makin' me kind o' nervous an'--an' tired. I can't stan' much 'xcitement, some way." "Wull, ye'll no' ha' lang to wait I'm a-thinkin'. It'll be ower the day. What aboot you're gaein' to Wilkesbarre?" "I don't know. I guess I'll go down to Mr. Sharpman's office after a while, an' see if he's left any word for me." Mrs. Maloney appeared at her door. "The top o' the mornin' to yez!" she cried, cheerily. "It's a fine mornin' this!" Both Bachelor Billy and Ralph responded to the woman's hearty greeting. She continued: "Ye'll be afther gettin' out in the air, I mind, to sharpen up the appetites; an' a-boardin' with a widdy, too, bad 'cess to ye!" Mrs. Maloney was inclined to be jovial, as well as kind-hearted. "Well, I've a bite on the table for yez, an ye don't come an' ate it, the griddle-cakes'll burn an' the coffee'll be cowld, an'--why, Ralph, is it sick ye are? sure, ye're not lookin' right well." "I wasn't feelin' very good las' night, Mrs. Maloney, but I'm better this mornin'." The sympathetic woman took the boy's hand and rubbed it gently, and, with many inquiries and much advice, she led him to the table. He forced himself to eat a little food and to drink something that the good woman had prepared for him, which, she declared emphatically, would drive off the "wakeness." Bachelor Billy did not take his dinner with him that morning as usual. He said he would come back at noon to learn whether anything new had occurred in the matter of the lawsuit, and whether it would be necessary for Ralph to go to Wilkesbarre. He was really much concerned about the boy. Ralph's conduct since the evening before had been a mystery to him. He knew that something was troubling the lad greatly; but, whatever it was, he had faith that Ralph would meet it manfully, the more manfully, perhaps, without his help. So he went away with cheering predictions concerning the suit, and with kindly admonition to the boy to remain as quiet as possible and try to sleep.