much more depressed than she was herself, and unable to feel it a
relief to know that the time of rest and want of occupation was over.
She thought it light-minded, though she could not help it, to look
forward to the daily studies where she might lose her sad thoughts
and be as if everything were as usual. But suppose she should be to
blame, where would now be the gentle discipline? Poor Ethel's
feelings were not such as to deserve the imputation of levity, when
this thought came over her; but her buoyant mind, always seeking for
consolation, recurred to Margaret's improvement, and she fixed her
hopes on her.

Margaret was more alive to surrounding objects, and, when roused, she
knew them all, answered clearly when addressed, had even, more than
once, spoken of her own accord, and shown solicitude at the sight of
her father's bandaged, helpless arm, but he soon soothed this away.
He was more than ever watchful over her, and could scarcely be
persuaded to leave her for one moment, in his anxiety to be at hand
to answer, when first she should speak of her mother, a moment
apprehended by all the rest, almost as much for his sake as for hers.

So clear had her perceptions been, and so much more awake did she
appear, on this evening, that he expected the inquiry to come every
moment, and lingered in her room; till she asked the hour, and begged
him to go to bed.

As he bent over her, she looked up in his face, and said softly,
"Dear papa."

There was that in her tone which showed she perceived the truth, and
he knelt by her side kissing her, but not daring to relax his