walk, quieted, perhaps, by what he
might have read in my ever-following eyes.

"I know you are as grieved as I am, Phineas. What can we do? Let us
forget that they are strangers, and act as one Christian ought to
another. Do YOU not think she ought to be told?"

"Most decidedly. They might get further advice."

"That would be vain. Dr. Brown says it is a hopeless case, has been so
for long; but he would not believe it, nor have his daughter told. He
clings to life desperately. How horrible for her!"

"You think most of her."

"I do," said he, firmly. "He is reaping what he sowed, poor man! God
knows I pity him. But she is as good as an angel of heaven."

It was evident that, somehow or other, John had learnt a great deal
about the father and daughter. However, now was not the time to
question him. For at this moment, through the opened doors, we heard
faint moans that pierced the whole house, and too surely came from the
sick--possibly, the dying--man. Mrs. Tod, who had been seeing Dr.
Brown to his horse, now entered our parlour--pale, with swollen eyes.

"Oh, Mr. Halifax!" and the kind soul burst out into crying afresh. John
made her sit down, and gave her a glass of wine.

"I've been with them since four this morning, and it makes me weakly
like," said she. "That poor Mr. March!--I didn't like him very much
alive, but I do feel so sorry now he's a-dying."

Then he WAS dying.

"Does his daughter know?" I asked.

"No--no--I dare not tell her. Nobody dare."

"Does she not guess it?"

"Not a bit. Poor young body! she's never seen anybody so. She fancies
him no worse than he has been, and has got over it. She WOULDN'T think
else. She be a good daughter to him--that she be!"

We all sat silent; and then John said, in a low voice--"Mrs. Tod, she
ought to be told--and you would be the best person to tell her."

But the soft-hearted landlady recoiled from the task. "If Tod were at
home now--he that is so full o' wisdom learnt in 'the kirk'--"

"I think," said John, hastily interrupting, "that a woman would be the
best. But if you object, and as Doctor Brown will not be here till
to-morrow--and as there is no one else to perform such a trying
duty--it seems--that is, I believe"--here his rather formal speech
failed. He ended it abruptly--"If you like I will tell her myself."

Mrs. Tod overwhelmed him with thankfulness.

"How shall I meet her, then? If it were done by chance it would be