"I fear not. As I tell you, I'm dead below the waist."
"Will you stay here till I come back, or shall we carry you up now?"
"I'll stay here. But don't be longer than you can help, and break the news as gently as you can to her."
"You may trust me."
Ellison went up the steps again, passed through the little crowd, and made his way back towards the house. He was only just in time, for Esther had seen the boats come in, and was on her way to meet her father. She was surprised to see the man to whom she had just said "Good-bye" coming along the path towards her. Something in his face must have warned her that he was the bearer of evil tidings, for she stopped, and he heard her catch her breath with a little convulsive sob.
"My father has returned, and you have bad news for me?"
"That of course depends upon how you take it. Yes, your father has returned, but—well, the long and short of it is, he is not very well."
"My father—not well! He was never ill in his life. It must be something serious, or he would not have sent you to tell me."
"He has met with a bit of an accident—a fall. He asked me to come on in advance and let you know, lest you should be frightened when you saw them carrying him up."
"That is not all; he is worse than you say. Oh, Mr. Ellison, for Heaven's sake, don't deceive me—tell me all! I can bear it, believe me."