He did not notice the explanation, but went on, ‘And the sun shone on my face, but a pleasant air fanned me. At other times all was dark and hot and miserable.’ ‘That was according to the stages of your illness.’ ‘No, I think I was content when you were in the room, and distressed when you were away. Some persons exert a mesmeric power of soothing.’ ‘Sick men get strange fancies,’ said Barbara. He rose on his elbow, and held out his hand. ‘I know that I owe my life to you, young lady. Allow me to thank you. My life is of no value to any but myself. I have not hitherto regarded it much. Now I shall esteem it, as saved by you. I thank you. May I touch your hand?’ He took her fingers and put them to his lips. ‘This hand is firm and strong,’ he said, ‘but gentle as the wing of a dove.’ She coldly withdrew her fingers. ‘Enough of thanks,’ she said bluntly. ‘I did but my duty.’ ‘Was there——’ he hesitated—’anyone with me when I was found, or was I alone?’ ‘There were two—a man and a boy.’ His face became troubled. He began a question, then let it die in his mouth, began another, but could not bring it to an end. ‘And they—where are they?’ he asked at length. ‘That one called Martin brought you here.’ ‘He did!’ exclaimed Jasper, eagerly. ‘That is—he assisted in bringing you here.’ Barbara was so precise and scrupulous about truth, that she felt herself obliged to modify her first assertion. ‘Then, when he saw you safe in our hands, he left you.’ ‘Did he—did he say anything about me?’ ‘Once—but that I suppose was by a slip, he called you brother. Afterwards he asserted that you were nothing to him, nor he to you.’ Jasper’s face was moved with painful emotions, but it soon cleared, and he said, ‘Yes, I am nothing to him—nothing. He is gone. He did well. I was, as he said—and he spoke the truth—nothing to him.’ Then, hastily, to turn the subject, ‘Excuse me. Where am I now? And, young lady, if you will not think it rude of me to inquire, who are you to whom I owe my poor life?’ ‘This, as I have already said, is Morwell, and I am the daughter of the gentleman who resides in it, Mr. Ignatius Jordan.’ He fell back on the bed, a deadly greyness came over his face, he raised his hands: ‘My God! my God! this is most wonderful. Thy ways are past finding out.’ ‘What is wonderful?’ asked Barbara. He did not answer, but partially raised himself again in bed. ‘Where are my clothes?’ he asked. ‘Which clothes?’ inquired Barbara, and her voice was hard, and her expression became stern. She hesitated for a moment, then went to the chest and drew forth the suit that had been rolled up on the pommel of the saddle; also that which he had worn when he met with the accident. She held one in each hand, and returned to the bed. ‘Which?’ she asked gravely, fixing her eyes on him. He looked from one to the other, and his pale face turned a chalky white. Then he said in a low tremulous tone, ‘I want my waistcoat.’