fled sigh, and
oh, how her heart ached for the poor lad!

This conversation and some remarks that the boy made, led Mr. and Mrs.
Parker seriously to think that he entertained hopes of recovery, and
they were of opinion that it would be kinder to undeceive him, than to
allow him to hope for that which could never he. Mr. Parker began to
talk to him about it one day, very kindly, after an examination of his
back, when White said, abruptly, "I don't doubt you are very skilful.
Sir, and all that, but I should like to see some other doctor. I have
money enough to pay his fee, and uncle said I was to have no expense
spared in getting me the best advice. Sir J. ---- comes here at Christmas,
I know, to see his father, and I should like to see him and consult him,
Sir, may I?" Mr. Parker of course could make no objection, and a day was
fixed for the consultation. It was a very unsatisfactory one and at once
crushed all Joe's hopes. The result was communicated to him as gently
and kindly as possible.

Mrs. Parker was a mother, and her sympathy for poor Joe was more lasting
than that of the younger branches of the family. She went to him on the
Sunday evening following the physician's visit to tell him the whole
truth, and she often said afterwards how she dreaded the task. Joe lay
on the sofa before the dining room window, watching the blue sea sit a
distance, and thinking with all the ardour of youthful longing of the
time when his back should be well, and he should be a voyager in one of
those beautiful ships. He should have no regrets, and no friends to
regret him; then he groaned at the pain and inconvenience and privation
of his present state, and panted for restoration. Mrs. Parker entered
and eat down by him.

"Is Sir J. C---- gone, Ma'am?"

"Yes, he has been gone some minutes."

"What does he say?" asked the lad earnestly. "He said very little to me,
nothing indeed, only all that fudge I am always hearing--'rest,
patience,' and so on."

"He thinks it a very serious case, my dear; he says that the recumbent
posture is very important."

"But for how long, Ma'am? I would lie twelve months patiently enough if
I hoped then to be allowed to walk about, and to be able to do as other
boys do."

"Sir J. C---- thinks, Joe, that you never will recover. I am grieved to
tell you so, but it is the truth, and we think it best you should know
it. Your spine is so injured that it is impossible you should ever
recover; but you m