The latter's address had fortunately not slipped from my memory, and I put all scruples aside and wrote by the next mail to him, setting forth my brother's sad condition, saying that I had heard John mention his name, and begging him on my own account to be so good as to help us if possible and come to us in this hour of trial.

Though he was so far off as Westmorland, Mr.Gaskell's generosity brought him at once to our aid, and within a week he was installed at Worth Maltravers, sleeping, in the library, where we had arranged a bed at his own desire, so that he might be near his sick friend.
His presence was of the utmost assistance to us all.

He treated John at once with the tenderness of a woman and the firmness of a clever and strong man.

They sat constantly together in the mornings, and Mr.
Gaskell told me John had not shown with him the same reluctance to talk freely of his married life as he had discovered with me.

The tenor of his communications I cannot guess, nor did I ever ask; but I knew that Mr.Gaskell was much affected by them.
John even amused himself now at times by having Mr.Baker into his rooms of a morning, that the management of the estate might be discussed with his friend; and he also expressed his wish to see the family solicitor, as he desired to draw his will.