Yes--what was "well," if one goes to moral ideals for a standard? We must run risks--we must set one side of the book against the other. What is the purpose and the justification of all morality but happiness? The course which involves least misery is alternatively the moral course. And take the best act that ever you did, and place it in that dreadful solvent, the light of God's eye, and how much of its motive will stand the test? Yes--another week, and all will be well; and has not a fertile mind like his, resource for any future complication, as for this, that may arise? Captain Shrapnell was not sorry to meet this distinguished party as they emerged, and drew up on the grass at the side, and raised his hat with a reverential smile, as the old lady wheeled by, and throwing a deferential concern suddenly into his countenance, he walked a few paces beside Cleve, while he said-- "You've heard, of course, about your uncle, Lord Verney?" "No?" answered Cleve, on chance. "_No?_--Oh?--Why it's half an hour ago. I hope it's nothing serious; but his groom drove down from Malory for the doctor here. Something wrong with his head--suddenly, I understand, and Old Lyster took his box with him, and a bottle of leeches--that looks serious, eh?--along with him." Shrapnell spoke low, and shook his head. "I--I did not hear a word of it. I've been in the castle with old Lady Calthorpe. I'm very much surprised." There was something odd, shrewd old Shrapnell fancied in the expression of Cleve's eye, which for a moment met his. But Cleve looked pale and excited, as he said a word in a very low tone to Miss Oldys, and walked across the street accompanied by Shrapnell, to the doctor's shop. "Oh!" said Cleve, hastily stepping in, and accosting a lean, pale youth, with lank, black hair, who paused in the process of braying a prescription in a mortar as he approached. "My uncle's not well, I hear--Lord Verney--at Malory?" The young man glanced at Captain Shrapnell. "The doctor told me not to mention, sir; but if _you'd_ come into the back-room"---- "I'll be with you in a moment," said Cleve Verney to Shrapnell, at the same time stepping into the sanctum, and the glass door being shut, he asked, "What _is_ it?" "The doctor thought it must be apoplexy, sir," murmured the young man, gazing with wide open eyes, very solemnly, in Cleve's face. "So I fancied," and Cleve paused, a little stunned; "and the doctor's there, at Malory, _now_?" "Yes, sir; he'll be there a quarter of an hour or more by this time," answered the young man. Again Cleve paused. "It was not _fatal_--he was still living?" he asked very low. "Yes, sir--sure." Cleve, forgetting any form of valediction, passed into the shop. "I must drive down to Malory," he said; and calling one of those pony carriages which ply in Cardyllian, he drove away, with a wave of his hand to the Captain, who was sorely puzzled to read the true meaning of that handsome mysterious face. CHAPTER XVII.