ful murmur.

"Some one who was sure to come when he knew you were ill--your son."
She paused, shocked at the frenzied expression of the old man's face.
"Nay--your younger son--Nathanael--may he come?"

She perceived some faint assent, beckoned to her husband, saw him take
her place at the bedside, and then stole away, leaving the son alone
with his father.

Agatha rejoined the rest of the family. They were all sitting talking
together as Nathanael had left them. After her leaving, they said, he
had hardly spoken at all, but had gone up directly after her.

In about half-an-hour he re-appeared--greatly agitated. His sisters all
turned to him as he entered, but he avoided their eyes. Agatha never
lifted hers; she sat in a dim corner behind Miss Valery.

"What do you think of him, Nathanael?" asked Mary, in a low voice.

"I cannot yet tell; I want to hear how he was seized. Which of you saw
most of him yesterday?"

"No one, unless it was Agatha. He was shut up in his study until she
came."

"And who has been most with him since?"

"Agatha."

A soft expression dawned in the young man's eyes as they sought the dim
corner.

"Will Agatha tell me what _she_ thinks of my father's state?"

This appeal, so direct--so unexpected--could not be gainsaid.

Yet, when Nathanael addressed her, Agatha's agitation was so visible
that it attracted observation--especially Mrs. Dugdale's.

"Poor child!" said Harrie, compassionately, "how pale she looks!"

"No wonder," Mary added. "She is more worn out than any of us. She sat
up all last night."

Nathanael's eyes were on his wife again, full of ineffable gentleness.
"Agatha, come over and rest in this armchair. I want to talk to you
about my father."

She obeyed. He spoke in a low voice:

"I feel deeply your having been so kind to him."

"It was right. I was glad to do it."

"What do you think caused his illness?"

"Doctor Mason said it was probably some severe mental shock."

Nathanael looked alarmed. "Indeed! and did the rest of the family know
anything?--guess anything?"

"Nothing."

Her husband fixed on her a penetrating gaze; she returned it steadily.

"Agatha," he hurriedly said, "you are a sensible girl--more so than any
of my sisters. I want to consult with you alone. Come and walk up and
down the room with me where they cannot overhear us."

She did so. How strange it was!

"Do you think my father had any sudden ill news? Did he see any person
yeste