uld it be if Wilmot
came to you?'

'Would Mr. May?' said Leonard, with a beseeching look.

'Richard? He would with all his heart; but I think you would find more
support and comfort in a man of Mr. Wilmot's age and experience, and
that Mr. Reeve would have more trust in him; but it shall be exactly as
will be most comforting to you.'

'If Mr. Wilmot would be so good, then' said Leonard, meekly. 'Indeed, I
want help to bear it patiently! I don't know how to die; and yet it
seemed not near so hard a year ago, when they thought I did not notice,
and I heard Ave go away crying, and my mother murmuring, again and
again, "Thy will be done!"--the last time I heard her voice. Oh, well
that she has not to say it now!'

'Well that her son can say it!'

'I want to be able to say it,' said the boy, fervently; 'but this seems
so hard--life is so sweet.' Then, after a minute's thought: 'Dr. May,
that morning, when I awoke, and asked you for them--papa and mamma--you
knelt down and said the Lord's Prayer. Won't you now?'

And when those words had been said, and they both stood up again,
Leonard added: 'It always seems to mean more and more! But oh, Dr.
May! that forgiving--I can't ask any one but you if--' and he paused.

'If you forgive, my poor boy! Nay, are not your very silence and
forbearance signs of practical forgiveness? Besides, I have always
observed that you have never used one of the epithets that I can't
think of him without.'

'Some feelings are too strong for common words of abuse,' said Leonard,
almost smiling; 'but I hope I may be helped to put away what is
wrong.--Oh, must you go?'

'I fear I must, my dear; I have a patient to see again, on my way back,
and one that will be the worse for waiting.'

'Henry has not been able to practise. I want to ask one thing, Dr.
May, before you go. Could not you persuade them, since home is
poisoned to them, at any rate to go at once? It would be better for my
sisters than being here--when--and they would only remember that last
Sunday at home.'

'Do you shrink from another meeting with Averil?'

His face was forced into calmness. 'I will do without it, if it would
hurt her.'

'It may for the time, but to be withheld would give her a worse
heart-ache through life.'

'Oh, thank you!' cried Leonard, his face lighting up; 'it is something
still to hope for.'

'Nay, I've not given you up yet,' said the Doctor, trying for a
cheerful smile. 'I've got a p