ent quietly
about arranging the things in the room. Then, with needless care, the
supper was placed on the table; for none of them could taste food. Then
her brother was prepared for bed; but all the time she spoke no word,
and went about like one in a dream.

When she stooped to kiss her brother a good-night, the little boy
clasped his arms about her neck, and wept aloud. But she did not weep;
she laid her head down on the pillow beside him, gently soothing him
with hand and voice; and, when at last he had sobbed himself to sleep,
she disengaged his arms from her neck, and, rising, placed herself on a
low stool beside her mother's bed.

Mrs Blair thought it better to leave her to herself. Indeed, what
could she say to comfort her? And so the child sat a long time gazing
into her mother's face, her own giving no sign of the struggle that was
going on within. At first the one thought that filled her mind was that
it was impossible her mother could be going to die. It seemed too
dreadful to be true; and, then, it was so sudden! Her father had been
with them for months after they knew that he must die, and her mother
had been quite well only three days ago. No; it could not be!

And, yet, such things had been before. She thought of a little girl,
rosy and strong, who had sickened and died in three short days; and it
might be so with her mother. How should she ever live without her? Oh,
if she could only die too, and have done with life and its struggles!
Everything was forgotten in the misery of the moment; and with a moan
that revealed to her aunt something of what she was suffering, she
leaned forward on the bed.

"Lily," said a voice beside her.

Lilias started. It was the first time her mother had spoken during the
day, and the child bent eagerly over her and kissed her.

"Lily, love, read to me the twelfth of Hebrews," said her mother, in a
low, changed voice.

By a strong effort Lilias quieted herself, and read on till she came to
the eleventh verse: "`Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be
joyous, but grievous; but afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of
righteousness to them that are exercised thereby.'"

"You believe that, Lily?" said her mother.

"Yes, mother," said the child, in a trembling voice.

"And you'll mind it by-and-by, darling, and comfort your brother with
the words? It won't be for long, Lily. You'll soon be with us there."

"Mother! mother!" gasped the chi