hung in the balance-a feather's weight on either side and she would go to the country from which there is no retur

throat, the terrible prostration caused by this form of blood poisoning, were no light foes to have to beat and conquer. But unceasing care presen

Staunton, who had just come into the room. "I hope you ag

; she is less feverish, and her breathing

ltogether into my care for the present, and not to come near her again unless a change for the worse should set in. I hear Mrs. Harvey stirring now in the next room, so s

what you please. You would have more influence with her than I should have. I am almost as great a stranger to her

and wash my hands before I s

In a couple of minutes she was

She opened her eyes now with a start. Healing sleep had done wonders for her-the dewy look of youth had come back

happened?" she asked

sleep," said Dorothy. "You'l

my thoughts-I know something has happen

king care of your dear li

Mrs. Harvey. She sat up in bed

said, "but I won't be a moment getting dr

change your dress there. I know Mr. Harvey is most

e dinner? But Freda is ill

tter; she is on the mend. I am taking

week. We have been down in the depths, truly. Yes, yes, I recollect it all-my little child, my only little child, my darling, my treasure! Oh, nurse, you should not have allowed me to sleep on all day, you should have c

oes not hurt her so badly. I don't pretend that she is yet out of danger, but if she continues to improve as she has done during the la

hungry, but I'll have something to eat in her room if you'll bring it to me. How awfully my darling mu

nxious that you should

give me my dress, will you? I tell you that nothing will

now-look into my eyes. I have nursed a great many sick children-I have seen many mothers in agony-I have never deceive

's strong face. Its repose, its calm, impressed her. She was in

e one is better. Oh, thank God; thank the great and good God! But, dear nurse, I must go to her. You are

get as bad as ever, and there will be no hope of her recovery. I want you, Mrs. Harvey, to sleep to-night, and leave the child in my care, I wish this, and the doctor wishes it, and I am sure, if you asked your husband, he would tell you that he wished the same. You are not required to d

her hands in perplex

mother from her child," sh

hy. "You must remember that you have not only

oor little unhappy baby, but I

o risk its life or your own. When it comes to you, you will see h

ke one peep at my

you may wake her. Please le

staggered

with a wistful sort of look. "

d will make me go back from

ich shut away the nurseries from the rest of the house, and a moment later found herself standing in Mr

you wear, madam

't matter what," r

ur duty to do so. You have got to think of the Squire. Nothing will please him and reassure him m

a smile crept into her eyes. "I don't think you would talk like that i

well," replied Dorothy, "Now, please

arvey, turning to the maid. She got up as she spoke, walked

. "You are someone to lean on. It rest

t now, and I fully believe that your sweet little girl will be spared to you. Now, I see you are going to

owly but surely, as the hours advanced, the fell disease lost its power, the choking sensation grew less and less in the throat, the horrible fu

had she nursed a case like this. Never before had she gone through such a hand-to-hand fight with death. The child was far gone when she a

rothy. "Oh, I thank Thee, my God!-I thank Thee for this mercy! Oh, wh

meone touched her on her shoulder-she looked up, and met the keen ey

ointing to the child, "she is not

said the doctor. "

l certainly recove

our doin

ing," she answere

d her one or tw

able form of nourishment. But that can be done, for I mean to undertake the management of her food my

; "but ought not that

mend she will be guided by your wishes and those of her husband. I have a kind of feeling,-I may be wrong, of course,-but I have a kind of feeling that God will s

asked me

in this part of the house with the child and one of the maids, a girl called Rhoda, who has been most helpful to me during the last twenty-four hours

other," pursued the doctor in a thoughtful tone. "You are