"Ah, John, is it you?" said I. "Step in, old friend, and be seated."
John obeyed awkwardly, twirled his hat about, coughed and hemmed, but said nothing.
"Well, Humphrys, what news?" I continued, to give him confidence.
Humphrys shook his head despondingly.
I grew alarmed. "Any thing amiss?" I exclaimed. "Mr Sinclair ill, or"——
"All well—in health, sir," stammered John—"all well there. I—I am going, sir."
"Going!"
"Yes, sir," said Humphrys in a whisper, and getting up to close the door. "My heart's broke."
"Don't desert your master now, John," said I encouragingly. "You have weathered the storm hitherto. Things are mending. Take my word for it, we shall be in smooth water presently."
Humphrys shook his head again.