let nothing escape him. And the sight of Fairfax was a welcome sight, for was not he “mixed up” with the whole matter, and probably able to throw light upon some part of it, could he be got to speak. “I hope I see you well, sir,” said Mr. Brown. “This is a sad house, sir--not like what it was a little time ago. We have suffered a great affliction, sir, in the loss of Sir William.” “I am going away, Brown,” said Fairfax. “I came up to ask for the ladies. Tell me what you can about them. How is Lady Markham? She must have felt it terribly, I fear.” “Yes, sir, and all that’s happened since,” said Brown. “A death, sir, is a thing we must all look forward to. That will happen from time to time, and nobody can say a word; but there’s a deal happened since, Mr. Fairfax--and that do try my lady the worst of all.” Fairfax did not ask what had happened, which Mr. Brown very shrewdly took as conclusive that he knew all about it. He said half to himself, “I will leave a card, though that means nothing;” and then he mused long over the card, trying to put more than a message ever contained into the little space at his disposal. This was at last what he produced-- +-----------------------------------------+ | With but always | | at Lady | | Markham’s | | service | | to the end | | of his life. | | | | EDWARD FAIRFAX’S | |most respectful and affectionate humble | |duty, his best wishes, his completest | |sympathy, only longing to be able to do | |anything, to be of any use. Going away | |_Trin: Coll._ with a heavy heart, | +-----------------------------------------+ When he had written this--and only when he had written it--it occurred to him how much better it would have been to have written a note, and then he hesitated whether to tear his card in pieces; but on reflection, decided to let it go. He thought the crowded lines would discourage Brown from the attempt to decipher it. “You will give them that, and tell them--but there is no need for telling them anything,” Fairfax said with a sigh. “You are going away, sir?”