All is not right." "Ah! I thought the poor dear old man would kill himself.

He has been working too hard, and presuming on his sailor's power of tumbling in and taking a dog's nap whenever he chose." "I have warned him again and again: but he was working so magnificently, that one had hardly heart to stop him.

And beside, nothing would part him from his maid." "I don't wonder at that:" quoth Tom to himself.

"Is she with him ?" "No: he found himself ill; slipped home on some pretence; and will not hear of our telling her." "Noble old fellow! Caring for every one but himself to the last." And they went in.
It was one of those rare cases, fatal, yet merciful withal, in which the poison seems to seize the very centre of the life, and to preclude the chance of lingering torture, by one deadening blow.
The old man lay paralysed, cold, pulseless, but quite collected and cheerful.

Tom looked, inquired, shook his head, and called for a hot bath of salt and water.
"Warmth we must have, somehow.