o Theodora this seemed to make it only more shocking.
If this was better, what must it not have been? Her tongue positively
refused to speak, and she only stood looking from her brother to his
wife, who reclined, sunk back in her chair beside him, looking utterly
spent and worn out, her cheeks perfectly white, her eyes half-closed,
her whole frame as if all strength and energy were gone. That terrible
hour had completely exhausted her powers; and when Theodora had
recollected herself, and summoned Lord Martindale, who undertook the
night watch, Violet had not voice to speak; she only hoarsely whispered
a few directions, and gave a sickly submissive smile as her thanks.

For one moment she revived, as she smoothed Arthur's bed, moistened his
lips, and pressed her face to his; then she allowed Theodora almost
to lift her away, and support her into the next room, where Sarah was
waiting. Even thought and anxiety seemed to be gone; she sat where
they placed her, and when they began to undress her, put her hand
mechanically to her dress, missed the fastening, and let it drop with
a vacant smile that almost overcame Theodora. They laid her in bed,
and she dropped asleep, like an infant, the instant her head was on the
pillow. Theodora thought it cruel to arouse her to take nourishment; but
Sarah was peremptory, and vigorously administered the spoonfuls, which
she swallowed in the same unconscious manner. She was only roused a
little by a sound from the baby: 'Give him to me, he will be quieter
so;' and Sarah held him to her, she took him in her arms, and was
instantly sunk in the same dead slumber.

'My pretty lamb!' mourned the cold stern servant, as she arranged her
coverings; 'this is the sorest brash we have had together yet, and I
doubt whether ye'll win through with it. May He temper the blast that
sends it.'

Gazing at her for a few seconds, she raised her hand to dry some large
tears; and as if only now conscious of Miss Martindale's presence,
curtsied, saying, in her usual manner, 'I beg your pardon, ma'am. There
is the room next the nursery made ready for you.'

'I could not go, Sarah, thank you. Go to your children; I will take care
of her. Pray go.'

'I will, thank you, ma'am. We will have need of all our strength before
we have done.'

'How has she been before this?'

'About as well as usual at first, ma'am, till he threw her back with
going off into they foreign parts, where he has been and as good as
c