kilful enough to say," replied Conway, cautiously; "but I
hope and trust it is only the effect of a shock, and will pass off as it
came."

"Ay," said Kellett, in a tone that startled them, and for a moment they
fancied he must have overheard them; but one glance at his meaningless
features showed that they had no ground for their fears.

"The evil is deeper than that," whispered Bella, again. "This cold dew
on his forehead, those shiverings that pass over him from time to time,
and that look in his eye, such as I have never seen before, all betoken
a serious malady. Could you fetch a doctor,--some one in whom you place
confidence?"

"I do know of one, in whom I have the fullest reliance," said Conway,
rising hastily. "I'll go for him at once."

"Lose not a moment, then," said Bella, as she took the place he had just
vacated, and placed her hand on her father's, as Conway had done.

Kellett's glance slowly followed Conway to the door, and then turned
fully in Bella's face, while, with a voice of a thrilling distinctness,
he said, "Too late, darling,--too late!"

The tears gushed from Bella's eyes, and her lips trembled; but she never
uttered a word, but sat silent and motionless as before.

Kellett's eyes were now bent upon her fixedly, with an expression of
deep and affectionate interest; and he slowly drew his hand from beneath
hers, and placed his arm around her.

"I wish he was come, darling," said he, at last.

"Who, papa?--the doctor?" asked Bella.

"The doctor!--no, not the doctor," said he, sighing heavily.

"It is poor Jack you are thinking of," said she, affectionately.

"Poor, sure enough," muttered he; "we're all poor now." And an
inexpressible misery was in his face as he spoke.

Bella wished to speak words of comfort and encouragement; she longed to
tell him that she was ready and willing to devote herself to him; that
in a little time, and by a little effort on their part, their changed
fortunes would cease to fret them; that they would learn to see how much
of real happiness can consist with narrow means, but she knew not in
what spirit her words might be accepted; a chance phrase, an accidental
expression, might jar upon some excited feeling, and only irritate where
it was meant to soothe, and so she only pressed her lips to his hand and
was silent.

The sick man's head gradually declined lower and lower, his breathing
grew heavier, and he slept. The long dreary day dragged on its weary