while the small nurse and guardian of the lesser ones. Mary was
hushed in a moment, and Flora's exhausted weeping was gradually
soothed, when she was able to recollect that she was keeping him from
her father; with kind good-nights, he left Ethel to read to her till
she could sleep. Long did Ethel read, after both her sisters were
slumbering soundly; she went on in a sort of dreamy grief, almost
devoid of pain, as if all this was too terrible to be true: and she
had imagined herself into a story, which would give place at dawn to
her ordinary life.

At last she went to bed, and slept till wakened by the return of
Flora, who had crept down in her dressing-gown to see how matters
were going. Margaret was in the same state, papa was asleep, after a
restless distressing night, with much pain and some fever; and
whenever Richard had begun to hope from his tranquillity, that he was
falling asleep, he was undeceived by hearing an almost unconsciously
uttered sigh of "Maggie, my Maggie!" and then the head turned wearily
on the pillow, as if worn out with the misery from which there was no
escape. Towards morning the pain had lessened, and, as he slept, he
seemed much less feverish than they could have ventured to expect.

Norman looked wan and wretched, and could taste no breakfast; indeed
Harry reported that he had been starting and talking in his sleep
half the night, and had proceeded to groaning and crying out till,
when it could be borne no longer, Harry waked him, and finished his
night's rest in peace.

The children were kept in the drawing-room that morning, and there
were strange steps in the house; but only Richard and Mr. Ernescliffe
knew the reason. Happily there had been witnesses enough of the