"Now，I"ve another errand for you," said my untiring master; you must away to my room again. What a mercy you are shod with velvet，Jane!- a clod-hopping messenger would never do at this juncture. You must open the middle drawer of my toilet-table and take out a little phial and a little glass you will find there,- quick!"

I flew thither and back，bringing the desired vessels.

"That"s well! Now，doctor，I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself，on my own responsibility. I got this cordial at Rome，of an Italian charlatan- a fellow you would have kicked，Carter. It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately，but it is good upon occasion: as now，for instance. Jane，a little water."

He held out the tiny glass，and I half-filled it from the water-bottle on the washstand.

"That will do;- now wet the lip of the phial."

I did so; he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid，and presented it to Mason.

"Drink，Richard: it will give you the heart you lack，for an hour or so."

"But will it hurt me?- is it inflammatory?"

"Drink! drink! drink!"

Mr. Mason obeyed，because it was evidently useless to resist. He was dressed now: he still looked pale，but he was no longer gory and sullied. Mr. Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid; he then took his arm-

"Now I am sure you can get on your feet," he said- "try." The patient rose.

"Carter，take him under the other shoulder. Be of good cheer，Richard; step out- that"s it!"

"I do feel better," remarked Mr. Mason.

"I am sure you do. Now，Jane，trip on before us away to the backstairs; unbolt the side-passage door，and tell the driver of the post-chaise you will see in the yard- or just outside，for I told him not to drive his rattling wheels over the pavement- to be ready; we are ing: and，Jane，if any one is about，e to the foot of the stairs and hem."