her sojourn there ? Hush ! See ! the lips move, the
eyelids open ! She murmurs " Mother !"
Thank heaven ! the fatal hour is passed ! By slow degrees the strength of Kate gradually returned, at least, if it could be said to return ; for she varied fearfully, and her sweet spirit seemed to hover so uncertainly twixt life and death, that those who watched her trembled lest their very look should break the frail thread that bound mortality to immortality. But the change in Mrs. Llewellyn was almost as sad. She was so unconscious of the cause of her daughter's illness, and it burst upon her so suddenly, that no wonder was it that she became stupified, almost childish.
Emily Melville had complete control over her, and she looked upon this amiable girl as a superior being-the only creature who seemed to afford pleasure to her during her affliction. And so the mother used to sit, hour after hour, day after day, watching every shade that flitted over her child's face ; and as a smile or a tear settled on it, so her own countenance imaged the expression. It was a sad sight to see those three take the same place every evening, the watchers not a whit less sorrowful,the sufferer not a whit less fragile. Emily had indeed an arduous task to perform ; on her devolved the duties of the household, and the care of the two invalids, whilst her mind was unceasingly preyed upon by the torturing thought that she had been the cause of these misfortunes. The evening after the one on which the story opens, the group was at its usual place, the same as ever, save that the countenance of the invalid was lighted up with an expression of such sweet calmness, almost cheerfulness, that seemed to her mother the harbinger of returning health ; but to Emily it was the last burst of light of • the expiring lamp. Yet she almost dared to hope that a change had been wrought by some unknown cause, and she was surprised at the calm manner in which she alluded in whispers to the past. The sun was just setting behind the distant hills ; it had hitherto been shrouded in dark black clouds ; when suddenly their heavy masses were divided, and it poured forth its beams in one broad flood of light ; the birds resumed their evening song, and the zephyrs seemed to be warmed into new life by the effulgence of the god of light. The rays fell on the watching group, and Kate, as she clasped a hand of each of her companions, said, "I am so happy now !" At that moment a servant entered the room, and begged Miss Melville to step out for a moment. It was very strange. No one was allowed to intrude upon the sacredness of those hours of watching. Mrs. Llewellyn looked surprised, and her astonishment did not seem decreased when Emily re-entered, her countenance as different to when she left the room, as the glorius sun was to the fragile girl. Such a mixture of hope and
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fear, and withal so much joy, that the woe-stricken mother started at her in amazement ; though she quietly obeyed a sign from Emily, to leave her and Kate alone, and retired to the other end of the apartment. Emily now approached the invalid with trembling step, and kneeling down took her hand between her own, and gazing in her face with such a look, as though her own life depended on the expression she there should meet, whispered in a faltering voice, " My sweet Kate, just now you were speaking of the past, and said you should like to hear of- of him. Strange to say, you may now gratify your wish ; for one has just called here," and her voice trembled still more, "who is acquainted with him. Tell me truly , dearest, do you wish, and do you feel able to see this-" "Oh! who is it ? Tell me. Let me see him directly ! Oh ! let me see him !" almost cried Kate, raising herself in her couch, then sinking back again, and covering her face with her hands she muttered, " Oh! God , help me in this trying hour!" With a desperate effort Emily flew to the door, beckoned Mrs. Llewellyn back to her seat, and, ere Kate recovered from the exertion, a tall, graceful figure, wrapped in a cloak, entered the room. His head was bent upon his breast, as though bowed down with grief. One hand covered his eyes, whilst the other was placed in Emily's, who led him to the window. He removed the hand from his eyes, bowed respectfully to Mrs. Llewellyn, and, with a faltering step, approached the couch, knelt down, and taking one of the small white hands, that now hung lifelessly by her side, between his own, bent over it with the solemnity of a worshipper, and a suppressed groan issued from his lips. At that moment the cloak fell from his shoulders, and displayed to Mrs. Llewellyn's bewildered gaze the form of Edward Dalrymple. What a moment of intense anxiety was this to Emily ! Kate opened her eyes, cast one look upon the kneeling figure ; her lips moved, and murmured, "Thank God !" One second more, and she lay
senseless. Mrs. Llewellyn, scarcely heeding the oft-repeated fainting fit, was gazing from one to the other, seeming by her looks to beseech Emily to explain the mystery. But by this time another had been added to the group. A young man of commanding figure and fine countenance, who had entered the room unobserved, gently took Mrs. Llewellyn's hand, and led her from the invalid's couch. Her attention was now diverted from that all-absorbing point, and it was with an exclamation of joy that Arthur Llewellyn was welcomed to his home by his mourning mother. He scarcely allowed the first transports to be over, ere he led her to a distant part of the room , and in a subdued voice hurriedly explained to her the cause of the blight that had fallen on their
