He hurried to the chimney-piece, and lit one of the candles in a bronze stand. "Why, Horace, old fellow, what are you about?" he cried, trembling. "Thank goodness, it is you." North muttered some words inaudibly, afraid to trust himself to speak, and covered his face with his hands. "Why, what's the matter, old fellow?" said Thompson, laughing. "Oh, I see; you've been shut up so long, you can't bear the light. How ridiculous, isn't it?" North remained silent. "I heard a noise, and knowing you were ill, felt it my duty to come down. I could tell that some one was prowling about, and backed in here with my fist ready doubled to strike, but you were too quick for me. I'm glad I spoke." Still no answer. "By Jove! what a joke! You took me for a burglar; I took you for one. What a blessing that we were not armed!" "Armed?" said North slowly. "Yes. Why, you might have sent a bullet through me. Well, I am glad that confounded tooth kept me awake. It has given me a chance of seeing you. Why, I had only just lain down in my clothes, after stamping about the room till I was afraid I should disturb the house. Give me something for it, there's a good fellow." North hesitated for a few moments, trembling lest he should say words that would excite his cousin's attention; but at last he rose with one hand across his eyes. "What, are your eyes so bad?" said Cousin Thompson. "Yes," was the laconic reply; and North went to the surgery, took a small bottle from a drawer, the clink of a stopper or two was heard, and a peculiar smell arose, as Thompson noted, with eager eyes, how his cousin kept his back to him while dropping a small quantity from each of the bottles he took down. "Can you see?" said Cousin Thompson, holding the candle. "Yes, I can see, thank you," said North, replacing the bottles on the shelf, and fitting a cork to that he held, before labelling it "poison." "Rub a little of that upon the outside of your face; it will allay the pain." "It's awfully good of you," said Thompson smoothly, "specially now you're so ill. Thanks. Rub a little outside, don't you say? I suppose this `poison' is only a scarecrow. It wouldn't hurt me if I took the lot." "No," said North quietly. "It would not hurt you. The sensation would he rather pleasant." "I thought as much," said Cousin Thompson, who, while he played with the bottle, watched North narrowly. "But," added the doctor impressively, "I should make my will first, if I were you." "Why?" "Because to-morrow morning you would be past the power of doing so." "Oh, I say, old fellow, is it so bad as that? Make my will, eh? Physician, heal thyself! Why, you haven't made yours." "No," said North quietly; "I have not made mine. Good night, I am going to my room." "One moment--shall I see you to-morrow?" "No." "Well, the next day, then?" "Doubtful," said North hurriedly, and he walked brusquely by his cousin to hurry to the staircase, and up to his own room.