the bird, which darted away like an arrow. After this she resumed her
work and sewed on with the same zeal as before, till aroused by the
sound of footsteps on the staircase.

"It is father! God grant he may have been lucky to-day!"

Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the room with a roll of paper in his hand,
and, throwing himself languidly into a chair, seemed altogether worn out
with fatigue. He had become very thin; his eyes were sunk in their
sockets, his cheeks were pale, and his whole expression was changed and
broken. It was very evident that sickness or depression, or perhaps
both, had made fearful ravages on his body as well as spirits.

The poor old gentleman was wretchedly clad. It was evident that he had
striven as formerly to conceal his indigence, for there was not a stain
or grain of dust on his garments; but the stuff was threadbare and
patched, and all his garments were too large for his shrunken limbs.

Lenora looked at him a moment anxiously. "You do not feel ill, father,
do you?"

"No, Lenora," replied he; "but I am very wretched."

Lenora said nothing, but embraced him tenderly and then knelt down with
his hand in hers.

"Father," said she, "it is hardly a week since you were ill in bed: we
prayed to God for your restoration, and he listened to our prayers; you
are cured, dear father, and yet you give way anew at the first
disappointment. You have not been successful to-day, father? I see it in
your face. Well, what of it? Why should it interfere with our happiness?
We have long learned how to fight against fate. Let us be strong and
look misery in the face with heads up: courage is wealth; and so, father
dear, forget your disappointment. Look at me. Am I sad? do I allow
myself to be downcast and despairing? I suffered and wept enough when
you were ill; but, now that you are well again, come what may, your
Lenora will always thank God for his goodness!"

The poor old man smiled feebly at the courageous excitement of his
daughter.

"Poor child!" said he; "I understand very well how you strive to appear
strong in order to keep me up. May heaven repay your love, dear angel
whom God has given me! your word and smile control me so completely that
I may say a part of your soul passes with them into mine. I came home
just now quite heart-broken and half crazy with despair; but you, my
child, have restored me to myself again."

"That's right, father," said she, rising from her knees and sitting down