"Oh, no," said Sir Denton. "You must look at the brighter side of the accident, my dear fellow. He will--I am speaking plainly--he will be utterly paralysed in his lower limbs, but in all probability the mental faculties will be sharpened, and from what I have seen of your father I should say he will be more energetic and active than ever." "Thank you," said Neil warmly; "thank you--" "Now go and break the bad news to your people at once, and all of you face the worst. You are spared a great deal. You know as well as I do that his accident might have meant a few hours' hopeless struggle against death and then the end." "Yes, yes," said Neil. "You are right, and I will try--we will all try--to face the trouble as we should. But you will stay the night and see him in the morning." "No, I can do no good. You will act in everything exactly as I should, and there are others waiting in agony for my return." "But--" "You know in your heart what I say is just, my dear Elthorne. Come, pupil, your old master trusts you," said the surgeon, taking his hand. "Forget for the time being that the patient is a relative; sink everything in the scientific aspects of the case; do your duty, and trust yourself. Now, God bless you, and good-bye." He grasped the young surgeon's hands warmly and turned to go, but stopped short. "I shall get someone to come and lend me a hand, so that you can stay down here as long as is necessary, but you will be able to come up for a day or two at the end of a week. Of course the first thing is to send you down an efficient nurse. Everything will depend upon her, as you know." "Yes," said Neil huskily, and he walked out into the hall. "I will not ask to see your sister or your aunt, Elthorne. My kindest regards, and I hope to renew my friendship with them at some happier time." He stepped into the waiting fly and looked at his watch. "Tell him to drive fast, and I shall just catch the last up-train. Good-bye." The wheels grated on the gravel drive, and the sounds were dying away as Neil turned to find that the drawing-room door had opened. Isabel ran to him and threw her arms about his neck, trying vainly to speak, as he held her to his breast, while her eyes looked imploringly into his. "What does he say, Neil?" said Alison huskily. "Tell us the worst." "The worst," replied Neil gloomily. "Then he will die?" cried Alison excitedly. "No, no." "But he has gone so soon. Don't keep it back, man. He said he could do nothing?" "He said that with care our father will live, but--" He stopped short for a few moments and a sigh that was almost a groan escaped him. "The poor old dad. Al," he said softly, "I am afraid he will be a hopeless cripple if the knowledge of his state does not kill him right off." "What's that? What's the matter?" cried Alison sharply, as the door opened and the butler appeared. "We are engaged."