the
snowy quilt as if seeking for something, and taking them both, he folded
them in his and pressed them to his lips, while tears, which he did not
attempt to restrain, fell over them.

"You don't think she is any worse, do you?" asked the father, huskily.

"I don't know anything, except that she can't lie this way much longer."

His harsh voice faltered and his stern mouth trembled. He laid the hands
back, went to the window and stood there till the room grew dusky and the
lamp was brought in. As Nellie closed the door after her, the doctor came
to the hearth, and said sharply--

"I would not be in your place for John Jacob Astor's fortune."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that, if you have any conscience left, you must suffer the pains of
purgatory for the manner in which you have persecuted that child."

"In all that I have ever done I have looked only to her good, to her
ultimate happiness. I know that she----"

"Hush, Leonard! hush! You are no more fit to be a father than I am to be a
saint! You have tyrannized and fretted her poor innocent soul nearly out of
her ever since she was big enough to crawl. Why the d----l could not you let
the child have a little peace? There are ninety-nine chances to one that
she has come to her rest at last. You will feel pleasantly when you see her
in her shroud."

His hard face worked painfully, and tears glided down the wrinkled cheek
and hid themselves in his grey beard. Mr. Huntingdon was much agitated, but
an angry flush crossed his brow as he answered hastily,--

"I am the best judge of my family matters. You are unjust and severe. Of
course I love my child better than anybody else."

"Heaven preserve her from such love as you have lavished on her! She is
very dear to me. I understand her character; you either cannot or will not.
She is the only thing in this world that I do really love. My pet, my
violet-eyed darling!"

He shaded his face and swallowed a sob, and for some moments neither spoke.
After a while the doctor buttoned up his coat and took his hat.

"I am going down to my office to get a different prescription. I will be
back soon."

Contrary to his phlegmatic habit, the doctor had taken counsel of his fears
until he was completely unnerved, and he went home more than usually surly
and snappish. As he entered his office, Russell advanced to meet him from
the window whence, for nearly an hour, he had been watching for his
arrival.

"Good eveni