"You have not forgotten me, surely?" inquired Manners, stepping forward, and throwing the light upon his face.
The priest gave a start of surprise as he recognised the visage of the new comer.
"Forgotten a Rutland?" he exclaimed. "No, never! Right glad am I to meet with thee again, but hush! This is the chamber of death. I will see thee afterwards. The father moves, see."
Father Philip endeavoured to turn himself over, but he was too weak to succeed, and he fell back exhausted.
"Oh, dear," he groaned, "I am a sinful man."
"So are we all, brother," returned Nicholas. "The best of us are very sinful."
"Dorothy."
Doll stood up and leaned over the bed.
"Give me your hand, my daughter."
She placed her hands between the thin hands which the father held out feebly to her, while the hot tears trickled down her face and fell in rapid succession upon the quilted coverlid beneath.