have been able to
live the last six years over again. But Horace--oh, Lora! I don't believe
there was a more wretched being on the face of the earth than he! I was
very angry with him at first, but when I saw how utterly crushed and
heartbroken he was, I couldn't say one word."

Adelaide was crying now in good earnest, as well as Lora.

Presently Lora asked for a full account of Elsie's illness, which
Adelaide was beginning to give, when a servant came to say that Elsie
wanted to see her; so, with a promise to Lora to finish her story another
time, she hastened to obey the summons.

She found the little girl still lying languidly in her father's arms.

"Dear Aunt Adelaide," she said, "I wanted to see you; you haven't been in
to-day to look at your little patient."

Adelaide smiled, and patted her cheek.

"Yes, my dear," she said, "I have been in twice, but found you sleeping
both times, and your father keeping guard over you, like a tiger watching
his cub."

"No, no, Aunt Adelaide; papa isn't a bit like a tiger," said Elsie,
passing her small, white hand caressingly over his face. "You mustn't
say that."

"I don't know," replied Adelaide, laughing and shaking her head; "I think
anybody who should be daring enough to disturb your slumbers would find
there was considerable of the tiger in him."

Elsie looked up into her father's face as if expecting him to deny the
charge.

"Never mind," said he, smiling; "Aunt Adelaide is only trying to tease us
a little."

A servant came in and whispered something to Adelaide.

"Mr. and Mrs. Travilla," she said, turning to her brother; "is Elsie able
to see them?"

"Oh, yes, papa, please," begged the little girl in a coaxing tone.

"Well, then, for a few moments, I suppose," he answered rather
doubtfully; and Adelaide went down and brought them up.

Elsie was very glad to see them; but seeing that she looked weak and
weary they did not stay long, but soon took an affectionate leave of her,
expressing the hope that it would not be many weeks before she would be
able to pay a visit to Ion.

Her father promised to take her to spend a day there as soon as she was
well enough, and then they went away.

Elsie's strength returned very slowly, and she had many trying hours of
weakness and nervous prostration to endure. She was almost always very
patient, but on a few rare occasions, when suffering more than usual,
there was a slight peevishness in her tone. Once it was to