'And your acquaintance--is he a reader of Paley too?' 'I believe the chaplain set him on it. He is a clerk, like me, and not much older. He is a regular Londoner, and can hardly stand the work; but he won't give in if he can help it, or we might not be together.' Much the Doctor longed to ask what sort of a friend this might be, but the warder's presence forbade him; and he could only ask what they saw of each other. 'We were near one another in school at Pentonville, and knew each other's faces quite well, so that we were right glad to be put into the same gang. We may walk about the yard together on Sunday evening too.' The Doctor had other questions on his lips that he again restrained, and only asked whether the Sundays were comfortable days. 'Oh, yes,' said Leonard, eagerly; but then he too recollected the official, and merely said something commonplace about excellent sermons, adding, 'And the singing is admirable. Poor Averil would envy such a choir as we have! We sing so many of the old Bankside hymns.' 'To make your resemblance to Dante's hill of penitence complete, as Ethel says,' returned the Doctor. 'I should like it to be a hill of purification!' said Leonard, understanding him better than he had expected. 'It will, I think,' said the Doctor, 'to one at least. I am comforted to see you so brave. I longed to come sooner, but--' 'I am glad you did not.' 'How?' But he did not pursue the question, catching from look and gesture, that Leonard could hardly have then met him with self-possession; and as the first bulletin of recovery is often the first disclosure of the severity of an illness, so the Doctor was more impressed by the prisoner's evident satisfaction in his change of circumstances, than he would have been by mere patient resignation; and he let the conversation be led away to Aubrey's prospects, in which Leonard took full and eager interest. 'Tell Aubrey I am working at fortifications too,' he said, smiling. 'He could not go to Cambridge without you.' 'I don't like to believe that,' said Leonard, gravely; 'it is carrying the damage I have done further: but it can't be. He always was fond of mathematics, and of soldiering. How is it at the old mill?' he added, suddenly. 'It is sold.' 'Sold?' and his eyes were intently fixed on the Doctor. 'Yes, he is said to have been much in debt long before; but it was managed quietly--not advertised in the county papers. He went to London, and arranged it all. I saw great renovations going on at the mill, when I went to see old Hardy.' 'Good old Hardy! how is he?' 'Much broken. He never got over the shock; and as long as that fellow stayed at the mill, he would not let me attend him.' 'Ha!' exclaimed Leonard, but caught himself up.