mother, who bent down and took it in her arms, while
Lord Martindale passed on. Theodora stood appalled and overawed. This
was beyond even her fears.

'Thank you for coming,' said Violet, who had sunk into a chair.

'O, Violet, when?--how!--'

But a look of horror came over Violet; she started up, almost threw the
infant into Theodora's arms, and vanished into the other room. 'Oh! what
is it! What is the matter?' exclaimed Theodora.

'The cough, the blood,' said Johnnie, in a low voice; and turning away
with a suppressed sob he threw himself down, and hid his face on a
chair. She was in an agony to pass that closed door, but the baby was
fretting and kept her prisoner.

After some minutes had thus passed, her father appeared, and would have
gone on without seeing her, but she detained him by an imploring cry and
gasp, and entreated to hear what had happened.

'The blood-vessel again--I must send for Harding.'

'Shall I tell James to go?' inquired a little quiet voice, as Johnnie
lifted up his flushed face.

'Do so, my dear;' and as the little boy left the room, his grandfather
added, with the calmness of hopelessness, 'Poor child! it is of no use,
it must soon be over now;' and he was returning, when Theodora again
held him fast--'Papa! papa! I must see him, let me come!'

'Not yet,' said her father; 'the sight of a fresh person might hasten
it. If there is any chance, we must do nothing hazardous. I will call
you when they give up hope.'

Theodora was forced to relinquish her hold, for the baby screamed
outright, and required all her efforts to hush its cries that they
might not add fresh distress to the sick room. It seemed to make her own
misery of suspense beyond measure unendurable, to be obliged to control
herself so as to quiet the little creature by gentle movements, and to
have its ever-renewed wailings filling her ears, when her whole soul
hung on the sounds she could catch from the inner room. No one came to
relieve her; only Johnnie returned, listened for a moment at the door,
and dropped into his former position, and presently Mr. Harding passed
rapidly through the room.

Long, long she waited ere the door once more opened. Her father came
forth. Was it the summons? But he stopped her move towards the room.
'Not yet; the bleeding is checked.'

Then as Mr. Harding followed, they went out of the room in consultation,
and almost the next moment Violet herself glided in, touched Johnnie's
head,