her, and therefore her strange silence on the subject
does not strike him as it does us. I will ask if I may not venture to
mention Horace to her."

But when she put the question, the doctor shook his head.

"No," he said; "better let her broach the subject herself; it will be
much the safer plan."

Adelaide reluctantly acquiesced in his decision, for she was growing
almost as impatient as her brother. But fortunately she was not kept
much longer in suspense.

The next day Elsie, who had been lying for some time wide awake, but
without speaking, suddenly asked: "Aunt Adelaide, have you heard from
Miss Allison since she went away?"

"Yes, dear, a number of times," replied her aunt, much surprised at the
question; "once since you were taken sick, and she was very sorry to hear
of your illness."

"Dear Miss Rose, how I want to see her," murmured the little girl
musingly. "Aunt Adelaide," she asked quickly, "has there been any letter
from papa since I have been sick?"

"Yes, dear," said Adelaide, beginning to tremble a little; "one, but it
was written before he heard of your illness."

"Did he say when he would sail for America, Aunt Adelaide?" she asked
eagerly.

"No, dear," replied her aunt, becoming still more alarmed, for she feared
the child was losing her reason.

"Oh, Aunt Adelaide, do you think he will _ever_ come home? Shall I ever
see him? And do you think he will love me?" moaned the little girl.

"I am sure he _does_ love you, darling, for indeed he mentions you very
affectionately in his letters," Adelaide said, bending down to kiss the
little pale cheek. "Now go to sleep, dear child," she added, "I am afraid
you have been talking quite too much, for you are very weak yet."

Elsie was, in fact, quite exhausted, and closing her eyes, fell asleep
directly.

Then resigning her place to Chloe, Adelaide stole softly from the room,
and seeking her brother, repeated to him all that had just passed between
Elsie and herself. She simply told her story, keeping her doubts and
fears confined to her own breast; but she watched him closely to see
if he shared them.

He listened at first eagerly; then sat with folded arms and head bent
down, so that she could not see his face; then rising up hastily, he
paced the floor to and fro with rapid strides, sighing heavily to
himself.

"Oh, Adelaide! Adelaide!" he exclaimed, suddenly pausing before her,
"are _my_ sins thus to be visited on my innocent child? bett