," opened his eyes with
a vacant gaze, and tried in vain to express some complaint.

In a short time, however, he regained a partial degree of consciousness.
He knew his mother, and was continually calling to her, as if for the
sake of feeling her presence, but without recognizing any other person,
not even his sister or his uncle. Henrietta stood gazing sadly upon him,
while his mother hung over him soothing his restlessness, and answering
his half-uttered complaints, and Uncle Geoffrey was ever ready with
assistance and comfort to each in turn, as it was needed, and especially
supporting his sister-in-law with that sense of protection and reliance
so precious to a sinking heart.

Aunt Roger came up to announce that dinner was ready, and to beg that
she might stay with Fred while the rest went down. Mrs. Frederick
Langford only shook her head, and thanked her, saying with a painful
smile that it was impossible, but begging Uncle Geoffrey and Henrietta
to go. The former complied, knowing how much alarm his absence would
create downstairs; but Henrietta declared that she could not bear the
thoughts of going down, and it was only by a positive order that he
succeeded in making her come with him. Grandpapa kissed her, and made
her sit by him, and grandmamma loaded her plate with all that was best
on the table, but she looked at it with disgust, and leaning back in her
chair, faintly begged not to be asked to eat.

Uncle Geoffrey poured out a glass of wine, and said in a tone which
startled her by its unwonted severity, "This will not do, Henrietta; I
cannot allow you to add to your mamma's troubles by making yourself ill.
I desire you will eat, as you certainly can."

Every one was taken by surprise, and perhaps Mrs. Langford might have
interfered, but for a sign from grandpapa. Henrietta, with a feeling
of being cruelly treated, silently obeyed, swallowed down the wine, and
having done so, found herself capable of making a very tolerable dinner,
by which she was greatly relieved and refreshed.

Uncle Geoffrey said a few cheering words to his father and mother,
and returned to Fred's room as soon as he could, without giving that
appearance of hurry and anxiety which would have increased their alarm.
Henrietta, without the same thoughtfulness, rushed rather than ran after
him, and neither of the two came down again to tea.

Philip Carey was to stay all night, and though Beatrice was of course
very glad that he should