m her of an accident
which happened this afternoon while--"

He paused, awed by the change that swept over her countenance, filling
it with horrible dread.

"Those gray horses?"

"Yes, madam."

"Not Elsie? Oh! don't tell me that my dear old Elsie was mangled!
Hush! I will not hear it!"

Palette and brushes fell upon the carpet, and she wrung her fingers
until the diamond-eyed asp set its blue fangs in her cold flesh.

"Robert was merely bruised, but his mother was very badly injured, and
is still insensible. Every precaution has been taken to counteract the
effect of the severe blow on her head, and I hope that after an hour
or two she will recover her consciousness. Robert is bringing her home
as carefully as possible, and you may expect them momentarily. Only
his urgent entreaties that I would precede him and prepare you for the
reception of his mother could have induced me to waive ceremony and
thrust myself into the presence of a lady who seems little disposed to
pardon the apparent presumption of my visit."

She evidently did not heed his words, and, suddenly clasping her hands
across her forehead, she said, bitterly,--

"Coward! why can't you speak out, and tell me that the corpse will
soon be here, and a coffin must be ordered? This is the last blow!
Surely, God will let me alone, now; for there is nothing more that He
can send to afflict me. Oh, Elsie,--my sole comfort! The only one who
ever loved me!"

A bluish pallor settled about her mouth, and Dr. Grey shuddered as he
looked into the dry, defiant eyes, so beautiful in form and color but
so mournfully desperate in their expression.

"Mrs. Gerome, your servant is neither dead nor dying, and I have told
you the worst. Down the road I can see the wagon coming slowly, and I
would advise you to call the household together, in order to assist in
lifting Elsie, who is very stout and heavy. Calm yourself, madam, and
trust your favorite servant to my care."

"Servant! Sir, she is mother, father, husband, friends,--all,--everything
to me! She is the only human being who cares for, or understands, or
sympathizes with me,--and I could not live without her. Oh, sir, do not
ask me to trust you! The time has gone by when I could trust anybody
but Elsie. You are a physician,--you ought to know what should be done
for her; and, Dr. Grey, if you have any pity in your soul, and any
skill in your profession, save my old Elsie's life! Dr. Grey--"

She paused a few