--very ill," said Waife deliberately;
"and there is that in your manner which tells me you guess the cause."

"I do guess it from the glimpse which I caught of Lionel's face after he
had been closeted a short time with Mr. Darrell at my uncle's house two
days ago. I guess it also from a letter I have received from my uncle."

"You guess right--very right," said Waife, still with the same serious,
tranquil manner. "I showed her this letter from young Haughton. Read
it." George hurried his eye over the letter, and returned it silently.
Waife proceeded:

"I was frightened yesterday by the strange composure she showed. In
her face alone could be read what she suffered. We talked last night.
I spoke of myself--of my old sorrows--in order to give her strength to
support hers; and the girl has a heroic nature, Mr. George--and she is
resolved to conquer or to die. But she will not conquer." George began
the usual strain of a consoles in such trials. Waife stopped him. "All
that you can say, Mr. George, I know beforehand; and she will need no
exhortation to prayer and to fortitude. I stole from my room when it was
almost dawn. I saw a light under the door of her chamber. I just looked
in--softly--unperceived. She had not gone to bed. She was by the open
window--stars dying out of the sky--kneeling on the floor, her face
buried in her hands. She has prayed. In her soul, at this moment, be
sure that she is praying now. She will devote herself to me--she will be
cheerful--you will hear her laugh, Mr. George; but she will not conquer
in this world; long before the new year is out, she will be looking
down upon our grief with her bright smile; but we shall not see her, Mr.
George. Do not think this is an old man's foolish terror; I know sorrow
as physicians know disease; it has its mortal symptoms. Hush! hear me
out. I have one hope--it is in you."

"In me?"

"Yes. Do you remember that you said, if I could succeed in opening to
your intellect its fair career, you would be the best friend to me man
ever had? and I said, 'Agreed, but change the party in the contract;
befriend my Sophy instead of me, and if ever I ask you, help me in aught
for her welfare and happiness;' and you said, 'With heart and soul.'
That was the bargain, Mr. George. Now you have all that you then
despaired of; you have the dignity of your sacred calling--you have the
eloquence of the preacher. I cannot cope with Mr. Darrell--you can. He
has a heart--it can