returned almost immediately, followed by Mrs. Travilla.

With a half-smothered exclamation of delight, Adelaide threw herself into
the kind, motherly arms extended to receive her, and burst into tears.
Mrs. Travilla let them have their way for a moment, while she stroked
her hair caressingly, and murmured a few soothing words. Then she said,
softly, "Edward called at the gate this morning, and learned all about
it; and I knew you were but young, and would feel lonely and anxious, and
I love the dear child as if she were my own, and so I have come to stay
and help you nurse her, if you will let me."

_"Let_ you! dear Mrs. Travilla; I can never repay your kindness."

Mrs. Travilla only smiled, and pressed the hand she held; and then
quietly laying aside her bonnet and shawl, took up her post at the
bedside, with the air of one quite at home, and intending to be useful.

"It is such an inexpressible relief to see you sitting there," whispered
Adelaide. "You don't know what a load you have taken off my mind."

But before Mrs. Travilla could reply, Elsie started up in the bed, with
a wild outcry: "Oh, don't, papa! don't send me there! They will kill me!
they will torture me! Oh, let me stay at home with you, and I will be
very good."

Mrs. Travilla spoke soothingly to her, and persuaded her to lie down
again.

Elsie looked at her quite rationally, and holding out her hand, with a
faint smile, said: "Thank you, Mrs. Travilla; you are very kind to come
to see me; I am very sick; my head hurts me so;" and she put her hand up
to it, while again her eyes rolled wildly, and she shrieked out, "Oh,
Aunt Adelaide! save me! save me! don't let them take me away to that
dreadful place! Must I go now? to-day?" she asked in piteous accents.
"Oh! I don't want to go!" and she clung shuddering to her aunt, who was
bending over her, with eyes swimming in tears.

"No, darling, no," she said, "no one shall take you away; nobody shall
hurt you." Then in answer to Mrs. Travilla's inquiring look, she
explained, speaking in an undertone: "He had decided to place her in a
convent, to complete her education. I told her of it last night," she
added mournfully, "as he requested, and I very much fear that the fright
and terror she suffered on that account have helped to bring on this
attack."

"Poor, dear, precious lamb!" sighed Chloe, who stood at the foot of the
bed, gazing sadly at her nursling, and wiping away tear after tear, as
they cha