Such were the old man's declared sentiments, and sure enough he clung to Mr.Archer's side, hung upon his utterance when he spoke, and watched him with unwearing interest when he was silent.

And yet his feeling was not clear; in the partial wreck of his mind, which was leaning to decay, some after-thought was strongly present.

As he gazed in Mr.Archer's face a sudden brightness would kindle in his rheumy eyes, his eye-brows would lift as with a sudden thought, his mouth would open as though to speak, and close again on silence.

Once or twice he even called Mr.Archer mysteriously forth into the dark courtyard, took him by the button, and laid a demonstrative finger on his chest; but there his ideas or his courage failed him; he would shufflingly excuse himself and return to his position by the fire without a word of explanation.

'The good man was growing old,' said Mr.
Archer with a suspicion of a shrug.