er labors
were over, to watch her husband and wonder if danger to her would have
brought a pang like this to his heart.

"I am quite well now," said Elsie, "and I didn't feel much frightened."

"Oh, child!" said her brother, "promise me never to run such risks
again."

"But you mustn't scold," she pleaded; "think of the danger I was in! Oh!
it was horrible to feel the water closing over my head--to go
down--down!"

"Don't think of it," cried Elizabeth, making a sudden effort to change
the conversation, from a fear that dwelling upon the danger which she
had incurred might bring on one of Elsie's nervous attacks.

"No," added Mellen; "it is all over now, quite over--don't think of it
any more."

"You look pale, Grant."

"No wonder, no wonder!"

The girl gave him one of her wilful smiles.

"Perhaps I tried the experiment to see how much you loved me?"

Mellen lifted her in his arms and rested her head upon his shoulder,
while many emotions struggled across his face.

"Child!" he said, in a tremulous voice, "you knew before--you have
always known. My mother's treasure--my pride--my blessing!"

There Elizabeth stood, forgotten, disregarded--so it seemed to her; but
she made no sign which could betray the bitter anguish at her heart.

There came a knock at the door.

"That's Tom Fuller," said Elsie; "tell him to come in, Bessie."

Mellen started up and opened the door himself. There stood Tom, clad in
dry garments, but still greatly agitated.

"How is she?" he asked. "Is she better?"

"You have saved her life!" exclaimed Mellen, grasping his two hands;
"you have saved her life!"

"But is she better?" he repeated, quite too anxious for any thought of
the credit due himself, and too unselfish to desire it even if he had
remembered.

"Come in and see," called Elsie, in a tender voice from her sofa.

Tom brushed by Mellen, and down he went on his knees by the couch,
exclaiming:

"She looks all right now. Oh, thank God!"

Mellen had been too profoundly disturbed himself for conjecture
regarding this passionate outburst; to him it seemed natural that every
one should be agitated, and Elsie soon brought them back to safer
common-places by her gayety, which not even the peril from which she had
been so recently rescued could entirely subdue.

"I declare, Tom," said she, "you are useful in a household located near
the water, as a Newfoundland dog."

"Oh, I can't laugh," cried Tom.

"But you must!" sa