Only the night before, Totty had told him of the old man’s position, and he had been casting about for a way of giving help.  He did not like to tell Lydia what was going on, yet the inquiries he had made of the men who occasionally employed Mr. Boddy convinced him that there was no hope of the latter’s continuing to support himself.  In his present state, the old man must at least have friends about him, and not cold-blooded pinchers and parers, who had come to dislike him because of his relation to the Trent girls.  With characteristic impulsiveness, Luke made up his mind that Mr. Boddy should be brought into the house and kept there; if need be he would provide for him out of his own pocket.

Mrs. Poole was no grumbler when a fellow-creature needed her kindness.  In a moment a match was put to the fire in the parlour; thither Jim and Ackroyd bore the old man, and laid him upon the couch.

He did not seem wholly unconscious, for his eyes regarded first one, then the other, of those who were ministering to him, but he made no effort to speak; spoken to, he gave no sign of understanding.  It was found that there was blood upon his head; he must have injured himself in falling.  For a quarter of an hour the attempts at restoring him were vain.  Then Luke said: 

’I shall have to run round for the doctor.  For all we know, he may be dying, for want of the proper things.’

‘Aye, go, lad,’ assented Jim.  ’I don’t like the look of his face.  Do you, Jane?’

Husband and wife whispered together during Luke’s absence.  They knew from the latter into what a miserable state the old man had sunk, and Jane was vigorous in reprobation of the Bowers.  Ackroyd returned, saying that the doctor would be at hand in a minute or two.

‘Oughtn’t you to go and tell Miss Trent?’ Jane asked him, as all three stood helpless, waiting.

’I’ve thought of it, but I’d rather not, if it can be helped.  Wait till the doctor comes.’

The old man lay quite still, breathing heavily.  His eyes were yet open, but had fixed themselves in one direction.

The doctor came.  He directed that the sufferer should at once be put into a warm bed.

‘My room, then,’ said Luke.  ‘Come and help, Jim.’

The directions were soon carried out, and the doctor went off, asking someone to follow for medicine.

The wound proved to be of no moment; graver causes must have led to the state of coma in which the old man lay.  When Luke returned from the doctor’s, he reported that the latter had spoken rather seriously.

‘I must go and see Lydia,’ he said to his sister.  ’You don’t mind this bother, Jane, eh?  You’ll sit by him?’

’Of course I will.  Go and fetch her; it’s my belief he hasn’t very long to live.’

It seemed to Ackroyd a long time since he had knocked at the door in Walnut Tree Walk; very much had come about since then.  Impatient, he had to repeat his knock before any one came.  Then Mr. Jarmey appeared.  No, he knew Miss Trent was not in; she had gone out with his wife half an hour ago, but it was getting late, and they were sure to be soon back.