mother knows, which I
suspect she does not, she has not told me; but whatever it be, it is in
some way mixed up with your going away; and knowing, my dear Dolly, that
you and I can talk to one another as few people can in this world,--is
it not so? Are you ill, dear,--are you faint?"

"No; those are weak turns that come and go."

"Put your head down here on my shoulder, my poor Dolly. How pale you
are! and your hands so cold. What is it you say, darling? I can't hear."

Her lips moved, but without a sound, and her eyelids fell lazily over
her eyes, as, pale and scarcely seeming to breathe, she leaned heavily
towards him, and fell at last in his arms. There stood against the
opposite wall of the room a little horse-hair sofa, a hard and narrow
bench, to which he carried her, and, with her head supported by his arm,
he knelt down beside her, helpless a nurse as ever gazed on sickness.

"There, you are getting better, my dear, dear Dolly," he said, as a long
heavy sigh escaped her. "You will be all right presently, my poor dear."

"Fetch me a little water," said she, faintly.

Tony soon found some, and held it to her lips, wondering the while how
it was he had never before thought Dolly beautiful, so regular were
the features, so calm the brow, so finely traced the mouth, and the
well-rounded chin beneath it. How strange it seemed that the bright
eye and the rich color of health should have served to hide rather than
heighten these traits!

"I think I must have fainted, Tony," said she, weakly.

"I believe you did, darling," said he.

"And how was it? Of what were we talking, Tony? Tell me what I was
saying to you."

Tony was afraid to refer to what he feared might have had some share in
her late seizure; he dreaded to recur to it.

"I think I remember it," said she, slowly, and as if struggling with
the difficulty of a mental effort. "But stay; is not that the wicket I
heard? Father is coming, Tony;" and as she spoke, the heavy foot of the
minister was heard on the passage.

"Eh, Tony man, ye here? I'd rather hae seen ye at the evening lecture;
but ye 're no fond of our form of worship, I believe. The Colonel, your
father, I have heard, was a strong Episcopalian."

"I was on my way to Coleraine, doctor, and I turned off at the mill to
see Dolly, and ask her how she was."

"Ye winna stay to supper, then?" said the old man, who, hospitable
enough on ordinary occasions, had no wish to see the Sabbath evening'