The sick man, with his white face and gleaming eyes, looked so fierce, and his tone was one of such extreme exasperation, that Mr. Foxey involuntarily pushed back his chair in momentary alarm. "Believe me, Squire, I had no intention of starting a topic that would be in the slightest degree offensive to you," said Mr. Plackett, in his most conciliatory tone. The sick man turned away impatiently, and pointed to a cup on the table that contained beef-tea.--Jago stepped forward and put the cup into his fingers. He lifted it to his lips, tasted a little of the tea, and next moment dashed the cup and its contents violently into the grate. "Cold--cold!" he cried with savage energy. "You are all alike," staring at Jago. "You are all in a league to hurry me into the churchyard!" And with that he sank back exhausted on his pillows, and began to catch his breath in quick gasps. Mr. Foxey was so startled that his spectacles fell to the ground. Charles Plackett rose and pushed back his chair: he, too, was alarmed. Jago, taken aback like the rest, as might be seen from his countenance, motioned the visitors from the room. "Indeed, indeed, I won't answer for the consequences if you stay," he earnestly whispered. Hubert Stone was holding the door open. "Cross-grained as ever," muttered the lawyer as he went out. Hubert reconducted them to the drawing-room, and ordered in biscuits and sherry, which Eliza brought. Presently Dr. Jago joined them. "He is coming round again," said the Doctor. "All his life, as I hear, Squire Denison has been subject to these little gusts of temper: but----" "Little, you call them!" put in Mr. Plackett, sipping his wine. The Doctor smiled faintly. "They are what we are most afraid of, I was about to say; and they are fearfully exhausting to him in his present condition." "Rather an uncomfortable kind of man to live with," said Mr. Plackett, with a shrug. "He certainly is a little trying at times," assented Hubert, with an emphatic nod. "But then, we are used to him." "I suppose the Squire's niece, Miss Winter, looks carefully after his comforts?" observed the lawyer. "Miss Winter is on the Continent: she has not been at home since last October," answered Hubert, with a brighter sparkle in his dark eyes. "Indeed!" returned Mr. Plackett, in as surprised a tone as though it were news to him. "Rather strange, is it not, that Miss Winter should stay away from him--in his present precarious condition?" "The Squire appeared to be well when Miss Winter left England; and--and he will not have her recalled. I believe she is expected shortly." "One would have thought she would like to be near him." "I dare say she would," interposed Dr. Jago; "but we think--_I_ think--she is just as well away. It is so very essential to keep him free from excitement. We have a most excellent nurse--and he has every possible care and attention. That I can assure you."