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 getting back in these years; he is where he started, only now it will take, oh, so much, much longer!" She suddenly covered her face with her hands and sobbed, and Siddereticus patted her shoulder gently.

"He was half conscious all day," she went on, "and they've had to give him morphine and things, he suffered so. Oh, it 's not right for anybody to suffer like that! His poor back, you know, that was so very much hurt already— But tonight he suddenly asked for you,—oh so faintly,—and for the amulet, which we'd taken off. He held it—or tried to—and called for you to come to him. Emily didn't want me to come—she said one of the men could tell you and I mustn't go; but I knew they couldn't explain it all."

"Will he know me?" asked Siddereticus, in a low voice.

"I'm quite sure he will," she said; "he