the sick bed of a person in her
condition of life.

Mave, during all her attendance upon Sarah, was never able to ascertain
whether, in the pauses of delirium, she had been able to recognize her.
At one period, while giving her a drink of whey, she looked up into her
eyes with something like a glance of consciousness, mingled with wonder,
and appeared about to speak, but in a moment it was gone, and she
relapsed into her former state.

This, however, was not the only circumstance that astonished Mave.
The course of a single week also made a very singular change in the
condition of the Daltons. Their miserable cabin began to exhibit an
abundance of wholesome food, such as fresh meat, soup, tea, sugar,white
bread, and even to wine, to strengthen the invalids. These things were
to Mave equally a relief and a wonder; nor were the neighbors less
puzzled at such an unaccountable improvement in the circumstances of
this pitiable and suffering family. As in the case of Sarah, however,
all these comforts, and the source from whence they proceeded, were
shrouded in mystery. It is true, Mrs. Dalton smiled in a melancholy way
when any inquiries were made about the matter, and shaking her head,
declared, that although she knew, it was out of her power to break the
seal of secrecy, or violate the promise she had made to their unknown
benefactor.

Sarah's fever was dreadfully severe, and for some time after her removal
from the shed, there was little hope of her recovery. Our friend, the
pedlar, paid her a visit in the very height of her malady, and without
permission, given or asked, took the liberty, in her father's absence,
of completely removing her raven hair, with the exception, as in Mave's
case, of those locks which adorn the face and forehead, and, to
his shame and dishonesty be it told, without the slightest offer of
remuneration.

CHAPTER XXVIII. -- Double Treachery.

The state of the country at this period of our narrative was, indeed,
singularly gloomy and miserable. Some improvement, however, had taken
place in the statistics of disease; but the destitution was still so
sharp and terrible, that there was very little diminution of the tumults
which still prevailed. Indeed the rioting, in some districts, had risen
to a frightful extent. The cry of the people was, for either bread or
work; and to still, if possible, this woeful clamor, local committees,
by large subscriptions, aided, in some cases, by loans f