in
vain to struggle against His will. It was His hand,--I feel it! I resist
no longer!"

She looked toward Maurice, who exclaimed joyfully, "My dear, dear
grandmother, have I regained Madeleine doubly to-day? Do you mean"--

The countess finished his sentence solemnly, "That it shall be as my son
said."

Madeleine, overcome with joy and gratitude, tried to raise herself up
that she might reach the countess, but sank back powerless, and the
effort again started the crimson current which trickled through the
bandage and ran down her face.

"Don't move!" cried Mrs. Lawkins. "See, see, what you have done by
agitating her. Go, all of you, away. Mr. Maurice, go, or you will do her
more mischief. Take him away, M. de Bois."

Maurice was so much alarmed at the sight of the blood that he could not,
at first, listen to these expostulations; but Mrs. Lawkins continued to
threaten him with such evil results if he did not obey, and to urge M.
de Bois so strenuously to compel him, that Gaston succeeded in leading
him away; Mrs. Lawkins bade Bertha follow them, and then locked the
door.

As she prepared a fresh bandage she said apologetically, "I was obliged
to send them away, Mademoiselle Madeleine; you must be quiet and not
speak a word until the doctor comes; it is very, very important."

And Madeleine did lie still in a trance of pure delight, and the
countess lay beside her almost as motionless.

CHAPTER LVII.

CONCLUSION.

The wound in Madeleine's head was dangerously near her temple. Her long
swoon had been caused by the severity of the blow, and she was
completely exhausted by her great loss of blood. When Dr. Bayard had
examined her injuries and readjusted the bandage, Maurice bore her
gently to her own chamber, clasping her closely in his arms as he went,
and breathing over her words of tenderest endearment. He left her in
Mrs. Lawkins' charge to be undressed and laid in bed, but even during
that brief process, knocked several times at the door to urge the good
house-keeper to make haste and admit him.

For nearly two months Maurice had been chained to the bedside of his
suffering father, or his grandmother; he had been fully initiated into
the duties of ministration, and upon the strength of his experience he
claimed the entire care of the new invalid. What a luxury to him it was
to watch over his beloved Madeleine! It seemed ungrateful of her to
deprive him of the happiness by getting well too rapidl