In the evening came the doctor, and spent the whole of it with him, interesting and pleasing him more than ever, and displaying one after another traits of character which Cosmo, more than prejudiced in his favour already, took for additional proofs of an altogether exceptional greatness of character and aim. Nor am I capable of determining how much or how little Jermyn may have deceived himself in regard of the same. Now that Joan had this ring, and his personal attachment to the doctor had so greatly increased, Cosmo found himself able to revert to the offer Jermyn once made of lending him a little money, which he had then declined. He would take the ring to Mr. Burns on his way home, and then ask Joan to repay Dr. Jermyn out of what he sent her for it. He told Jermyn therefore, as he sat by his bed-side, that he found himself obliged after all to accept the said generous proposal, but would return the money before he got quite home. The doctor smiled, with reasons for satisfaction more than Cosmo knew, and taking out his pocket-book, said, as he opened it, “I have just cashed a cheque, fortunately, so you had better have the money at once.--Don’t bother yourself about it,” he added, as he handed him the notes; “there is no hurry. I know it is safe.” “This is too much,” said Cosmo. “Never mind; it is better to have too much than too little; it will be just as easy to repay.” Cosmo thanked him, and put the money under his pillow. The doctor bade him good night, and left him. The moment he was alone, a longing greater than he had ever yet felt, arose in his heart to see his father. The first hour he was able to travel, he would set out for home! His _camera obscura_ haunted with flashing water and speedwells and daisies and _horse-gowans_, he fell fast asleep, and dreamed that his father and he were defending the castle from a great company of pirates, with the old captain at the head of them. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE THICK DARKNESS. The next day he was still better, and could not think why the doctor would not let him get up. As the day went on, he wondered yet more why Joan did not come to see him. Not once did the thought cross him that it was the doctor’s doing. If it had, he would but have taken it for a precaution--as indeed it was, for the doctor’s sake, not his. Jermyn would have as little intercourse between them as might be, till he should have sprung his spiritual mine. But he did all he could to prevent him from missing her, and the same night opened all his heart to Cosmo--that is, all the show-part of it. [Illustration: THE NEXT DAY HE WAS STILL BETTER.]