er death a
thousand times!" And sinking shuddering into a seat, he covered his face
with his hands, and groaned aloud.

"Don't be so distressed, dear brother, I am sure it cannot be so bad as
you think," whispered Adelaide, passing her arm around his neck and
kissing him softly. "She looks bright enough, and seems to perfectly
understand all that is said to her."

"Dr. Barton!" announced Pompey, throwing open the door of the parlor
where they were sitting.

Mr. Dinsmore rose hastily to greet him.

"What is the matter? is anything wrong with my patient?" he asked
hurriedly, looking from one to the other, and noticing the signs of
unusual emotion in each face.

"Tell him, Adelaide," entreated her brother, turning away his head to
hide his feelings.

Adelaide repeated her story, not without showing considerable emotion,
though she did not mention the nature of their fears.

"Don't be alarmed," said the physician, cheerfully; "she is _not_ losing
her mind, as I see you both fear; it is simply a failure of memory for
the time being; she has been fearfully ill, and the mind at present
partakes of the weakness of the body, but I hope ere long to see them
both grow strong together.

"Let me see--Miss Allison left, when? a year ago last April, I think you
said, Miss Adelaide, and this is October. Ah! well, the little girl has
only lost about a year and a half from her life, and it is altogether
likely she will recover it; but even supposing she does not, it is no
great matter after all."

Mr. Dinsmore looked unspeakably relieved, and Adelaide hardly less so.

"And this gives you one advantage, Mr. Dinsmore," continued the doctor,
looking smilingly at him; "you can now go to her as soon as Miss Adelaide
has cautiously broken to her the news of your arrival."

When Elsie waked, Adelaide cautiously communicated to her the tidings
that her father had landed in America, in safety and health, and hoped to
be with them in a day or two.

A faint tinge of color came to the little girl's cheek, her eyes
sparkled, and, clasping her little, thin hands together, she exclaimed,
"Oh! can it really be true that I shall see my own dear father? and do
you think he will _love_ me, Aunt Adelaide?"

"Yes, indeed, darling; he _says_ he loves you dearly, and longs to have
you in his arms."

Elsie's eyes filled with happy tears.

"Now you must try to be very calm, darling, and not let the good news
hurt you," said her aunt kindly; "