This time fortunately the sleep was that of one who had fought a good fight, had lost, but whose conscience was clear; and to whom, after many days, had been restored a sound mind in a body sound enough to last through many years of unremitting rest. CHAPTER XVII. EPILOGUE. A SINGLE year has passed since the episode which brought our last chapter to a close. The new Barncastle of Burningford is well and happy in the paths of pleasantness and peace, into which he was so unexpectedly and so unwittingly brought. His daughter has become engaged to a promising scion of a neighbouring house of large means and high estate in the social world. Hopkins Toppleton is in New York, busy at the practice of the law, developing a genius in the profession he had adopted for the convenience of his partners at which they stand amazed; steadily forging his way to the front, his energy, his aggressiveness, and extraordinary fertility of resource dazzling all beholders. As for the weary spirit,--alas for him! He still whistles, wearily, through space, hopeless and forlorn, but at all times a welcome visitor to Burningford, whither he personally went, shortly after Toppleton's departure for New York, to lay his petition at the feet of Barncastle himself. He knows now what has happened to his young counsel, and his regret for himself is tempered by his regret for what he has brought upon him who so nobly undertook to champion his cause, for the quondam Toppleton has concealed from his first client the happiness that he feels over the strange metamorphosis in his fortunes, lest, comparing it with his own miserable condition, the exile may become more unhappy than ever. THE END. * * * * * Transcriber's Notes: Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Page viii, Table of Contents, "232" changed to "233" to reflect actual place of Chapter XV. Page 11, "depature" changed to "departure" (preparations for departure) Page 60, "irrefragible" changed to "irrefragable" (an absolutely irrefragable) Page 96, "n" changed to "in" (in the face of) Page 177, "stong" changed to "strong" (a strong point) Page 188, "sentitiments" changed to "sentiments" (to be, with sentiments) Page 229, "thousand" changed to "thousands" (has travelled thousands) End of Project Gutenberg's Toppleton's Client, by John Kendrick Bangs