her.
Last night, after I had been asleep a long time, I woke up, and there
I saw her kneeling before the table with her hands over her face. Just
then it struck one, and soon after she got into bed. I did not let her
know I was awake, for speaking would only have made it worse, but I am
sure she did not sleep all night, and this morning she had one of her
most uncomfortable fits of palpitation. She had just fallen asleep, when
I looked in after dressing, but I do not think she will be fit to come
down to-day."

"And do you think it was talking of Uncle and Aunt Geoffrey that brought
it on?" said Fred, with much concern; "yet it did not seem to have much
to do with my father."

"O but it must," said Henrietta. "He must have been there all the time
mixed up in everything. Queen Bee has told me how they were always
together when they were children."

"Ah! perhaps; and I noticed how she spoke about her wedding," said
Fred. "Yes, and to compare how differently it has turned out with Aunt
Geoffrey and with her, after they had been young and happy together.
Yes, no doubt it was he who persuaded the people at Knight Sutton into
letting them marry!"

"And their sorrow that she spoke of must have been his death," said
Henrietta. "No doubt the going over those old times renewed all those
thoughts."

"And you think going to Knight Sutton might have the same effect. Well,
I suppose we must give it up," said Fred, with a sigh. "After all, we
can be very happy here!"

"O yes! that we can. It is more on your account than mine, that I wished
it," said the sister.

"And I should not have thought so much of it, if I had not thought it
would be pleasanter for you when I am away," said Fred.

"And so," said Henrietta, laughing yet sighing, "we agree to persuade
each other that we don't care about it."

Fred performed a grimace, and remarked that if Henrietta continued to
make her tea so scalding, there would soon be a verdict against her
of fratricide; but the observation, being intended to conceal certain
feelings of disappointment and heroism, only led to silence.

After sleeping for some hours, Mrs. Langford awoke refreshed, and got
up, but did not leave her room. Frederick and Henrietta went to take a
walk by her desire, as she declared that she preferred being alone, and
on their return they found her lying on the sofa.

"Mamma has been in mischief," said Fred. "She did not think herself
knocked up enough already, so sh