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"Caradoc," he called, "I want to speak to you"

Cardo cast an involuntary glance of astonishment at Gwynne Ellis as he

rose from the table and put his pipe back on its bracket

"I think I shall go to bed," said Ellis, leaning back with a yawn and a

stretch "I have been on s all day, and a jolly day it has been!"

The Vicar was standing at the study door holding it a little ajar; he

opened it wide for his son's entrance, and closed it carefully before

he seated hiht your candles, father?"

"Yes--one will do"

And, while Cardo busied himself with the candle and st his papers and coughed

aardly

"Sit down, Cardo I have so to say for soive you pleasure"

Cardo said nothing, his attention being rivetted upon his father's

countenance; the marble face seemed whiter than usual, the deep shadows

round the eyes darker and--was it fancy?--or were the lips whiter?

"What is it, father?" said Cardo, at last pitying the old man's evident

nervousness; "no bad news, I hope?"

"Bad news!" said the Vicar, with a forced se and rather yellow teeth "Didn't I say I hoped it would

please you?"