unfortunately not quite as noiselessly as Uncle Geoffrey had
opened it, and proceeded to ask sundry questions; to which the patient
scarcely vouchsafed a short and pettish reply. When at last he quitted
the room, and was followed by Mrs. Frederick Langford, a "Don't go,
mamma," was immediately heard.

"You must spare me for a very little while, my dear," said she, gently
but steadily.

"Don't stay long, then," replied he.

Uncle Geoffrey came up to his bedside, and with a touch soft and light
as a woman's, arranged the coverings disturbed by his restlessness,
and for a few moments succeeded in tranquillizing him, but almost
immediately he renewed his entreaties that his mother would return, and
had it been any other than his uncle who had taken her place, would have
grumbled at his not going to call her. On her return, she was greeted
with a discontented murmur. "What an immense time you have stayed
away!"--presently after, "I wish you would not have that Carey!" and
then, "I wish we were at Rocksand,--I wish Mr. Clarke were here."

Patience in illness is a quality so frequently described in books as
well as actually found in real life, that we are apt to believe that it
comes as a matter of course, and without previous training, particularly
in the young, and that peevishness is especially reserved for the
old and querulous, who are to try the amiability of the heroine. To
a certain degree, this is often the case; the complete prostration of
strength, and the dim awe of approaching death in the acute illnesses
of the young, often tame down the stubborn or petulant temper, and their
patience and forbearance become the wonder and admiration of those who
have seen germs of far other dispositions. And when this is not the
case, who would have the heart to complain? Certainly not those who
are like the mother and uncle who had most to endure from the exacting
humours of Frederick Langford. High spirits, excellent health, a certain
degree of gentleness of character, and a home where, though he was not
over indulged, there was little to ruffle him, all had hitherto combined
to make him appear one of the most amiable good-tempered boys that ever
existed; but there was no substance in this apparent good quality, it
was founded on no real principle of obedience or submission, and when to
an habitual spirit of determination to have his own way, was superadded
the irritability of nerves which was a part of his illness, when his