chair by
the open window, with Baxter's "Saints' Rest" upon her knee.

When Gifford had gone back to the lawyer's house, he found the little
gentleman somewhat brighter. Mary had put a clean white counterpane on
the bed, and buttoned a fresh valance around it; and on the small table
at his side Willie had placed a big bunch of gillyflowers and lupins,
with perhaps less thought of beauty than of love.

"Gifford," he said, "I am glad to see you. And how, if you please,
did you leave your aunt? I hope you conveyed to her my thanks for her
thoughtfulness, and my apologies for detaining you as well?"

"Yes, sir," the young man answered, "I did. They are both rejoiced that
I can be of any service."

Gifford had come to the side of the bed, and, slipping his strong young
arm under Mr. Denner's head, lifted him that he might take with greater
ease the medicine he held in a little slender-stemmed glass. "Ah," said
Mr. Denner, between a sigh and a groan, as Gifford laid him down again,
"how gentle you are! There is a look in your face, sometimes, of one of
your aunts, sir; not, I think, Miss Deborah. I have thought much, since
I--I knew my condition, Gifford, of my wish that your aunt Deborah should
have the miniature of my little sister. I still wish it. It is not easy
for me to decide a momentous question, but, having decided, I am apt to
be firm. Perhaps--unreasonably firm. I would not have you imagine I had,
in any way, changed my mind, as it were--yet I have recurred,
occasionally, in my thoughts, to Miss Ruth. I should not wish to seem to
slight Miss Ruth, Gifford?"

"She could not feel it so, I know," the young man answered.

But Mr. Denner's thoughts apparently dwelt upon it, for twice again, in
intervals of those waking dreams, or snatches of sleep, he said, quite to
himself, "It is decided; yet it would seem marked to pass over Miss
Ruth." And again he murmured, "I should not wish to slight Miss Deborah's
sister."

Later in the afternoon he wakened, with a bright, clear look in his face.
"It occurs to me," he said, "that I have another portrait, of no value at
all compared with the miniature (and of course it is becoming that the
miniature should go to Miss Deborah), which I might give to Miss Ruth.
Because she is the sister of Miss Deborah, you understand, Gifford.
Perhaps you will be so good as to hand me the square package from that
same little drawer? Here is the key."

Gifford brought it: it was a daguerre