nless it were a heightening
of the carmine on cheeks and lips, and an increased twitching of the
fingers, which hunted so pertinaciously about the bed-clothes.

"That everlasting picking, picking at everything is such an awful bad
sign!" said poor Nellie, who was crying bitterly at the foot of the bed;
and she covered her face with her apron to shut out the sight.

"You 'pick' yourself off to bed, Nellie! I don't want you snubbing and
groaning around day and night."

"I am afraid to leave her a minute. I am afraid when my poor baby shuts her
eyes she will never open 'em again till she opens 'em in heaven."

"Oh, go along to sleep! you eternal old stupid. I will wake you up, I tell
you, if she gets worse."

He mixed one of the powders and stooped down.

"Irene--Irene, take this for me, won't you, dear?"

She gave no intimation of having heard him till he placed the wineglass to
her mouth and raised her head tenderly; then she swallowed the contents
mechanically. At the expiration of an hour he repeated the dose, and at ten
o'clock, while he sat watching her intently, he saw the eyelids begin to
droop, the long, silky lashes quivered and touched her cheeks. When he
listened to her breathing, and knew that at last she slept, his grey head
sank on his chest, and he murmured, inaudibly, "Thank God!" Patient as a
woman, he kept his place at her side, fearing to move lest he should wake
her; the dreary hours of night wore away; morning came, gloriously bright,
and still she slept. The flush had faded, leaving her wan as death, and the
little hands were now at rest. She looked like the figures which all have
seen on cenotaphs, and anxiously and often the doctor felt the slow pulse,
that seemed weary of its mission. He kept the room quiet, and maintained
his faithful watch, refusing to leave her for a moment. Twelve o'clock
rolled round, and it appeared, indeed, as if Nellie's prognostication would
prove true, the sleeper was so motionless. At three o'clock the doctor
counted the pulse, and, reassured, threw his head back against the velvet
lining of the chair, and shut his aching eyes. Before five minutes had
elapsed, he heard a faint, sweet voice say, "Paragon." Springing to his
feet, he saw her put out her hand to pat the head of her favourite, who
could not be kept out of the room, and howled so intolerably when they
chained him, that they were forced to set him free. Now he stood with his
paws on the pillow and his fa