With that Jim Podmore staggered upstairs, with faithful Snap at his heels, and within an hour Old Wheels heard the street-door bell ring, and hurried downstairs.
[CHAPTER XXXVI.]
HOW FELIX GAINED A CLUB.
Felix intended to leave Lily after he had seen her safely within doors, but the old man begged him to come in. A look from Lily decided him, and the three faithful souls ascended the stairs to the old man's room. Old Wheels entering first, gave Lily an opportunity to say hurriedly to Felix,
"Don't tell grandfather of my fainting, Felix. It might distress him."
He promised her.
"Nor about Mr. Sheldrake."
"Very well, Lily."
She spoke in a whisper; she was so thrilling with exquisite sensitiveness that any harsher sound would have been a disturbance to her happy state.
"I will think of what you have said to-night, Felix; you are right, I know--you must be right." (The unspoken words came to her: "My heart tells me so.") "Thank you for it, Felix, with all my heart."