As Mr Darnley had entered the cottage with gentle step, as fearing to disturb the sick, those who were above were not aware of his presence till he entered the upper room. And when he was there, though Miss Primrose herself was before him, and though his anger had been strongly excited against her, he thought not of the offence or the offender. His attention was first arrested by the sight of the poor old man, who was standing by his grand-daughter’s bed side, and trembling with age and infirmity. There was not in the countenance of the poor man any expression of grief or sympathy; his eye, expressive of no emotion or even consciousness, rested coldly on his grand-daughter; and as Mr Darnley entered the room, the old man just turned his face towards the visitor, and no otherwise altered his position or expressed any sense of a stranger’s presence. Penelope was leaning over the bed on which the sick girl lay, and was endeavouring to soothe her with kind words, and to persuade her to take some slight nourishment. And when the patient saw Mr Darnley, she started with astonishment, which led Miss Primrose to look towards the door of the apartment. Penelope was the only one of the three who at that moment knew Mr Darnley; for the old man had forgotten him, and the poor girl had never known him. The young lady was much moved at the sight of Mr Darnley; and she was preparing to rise to pay her respects to the gentleman. She could not rise very quickly, for her left arm was supporting the sick girl’s head, and Penelope was unwilling to withdraw that support hastily. Mr Darnley saw this, and signified by the moving of his hand, and by a gentle whisper, that he would not have the sick one disturbed. Then he came near and took the old man’s hand, which was yielded placidly and wonderingly. But when Mr Darnley spoke to him and called him by name, the old man’s recollection returned, and the light of intelligence came into his looks. “Have you no recollection of me, Fitzpatrick?” said Mr Darnley. “Oh yes, Sir,” replied the old man; “I do recollect you now. But it is a long time since I have seen you, Sir.” Then Fitzpatrick pointed to the poor girl, and said to Mr Darnley: “There’s a sight, Sir, for an old man. You remember my boy; he was at one time likely to do well in the world; but he was carried off by a fever in the prime of life, and there lies his only child.” The old man was going to say more, but his feelings prevented his utterance. And Mr Darnley spoke kindly to him, and gave him assurance that he should not want, but that every comfort should be given him to cheer his declining days. “You are good, Sir, very good; but I shall not long stand in need of any comforts. This good young lady, Sir, has been very kind to us both.”