ean ever to be cross to you again, especially when we are
going to part even for an hour."

"No," he said, with emotion, and drawing her closer to him; "we should
not have parted so; we had promised each other we would not; and I
should have gone to you and made it up with you before leaving the
house."

"It was all my fault," she sobbed; "and if--if you had been taken from
me, I could never have had another happy moment."

"Thank God that we are spared to each other!" he said with fervent
gratitude. "And now, dear wife, let us try to forget that there has been
ever any coldness or clashing between us. Let us enjoy the present, and
be as happy in each other as if no cloud, even the slightest, had ever
come over our intercourse as husband and wife."

"Yes," she said. Then, lifting her face, and gazing earnestly into his,
"How pale and exhausted you look!" she cried in alarm. "I have talked,
and let you talk, too much and too excitingly. I'm afraid cousin Arthur
will say I am but a poor sort of nurse. Now," withdrawing herself from
his embrace, and gently re-arranging his pillows, and smoothing the
bed-clothes, "shut your eyes, and try to sleep. I'll stay close beside
you, and be as quiet as a mouse."

With a faint smile, he did as he was bidden; and she fulfilled her
promise to the letter, watching beside him with love and solicitude for
two hours, till his eyes again unclosed, and met hers, gazing so
tenderly upon him, with an answering look of ardent affection.

"You have had a good nap, and look quite refreshed, dear," she said,
bending over him, and softly stroking his hair with her little white
hand.

"Yes; I feel much better," he said. "And you, love,--have you been
sitting there all this time?"

"Of course I have," she answered gayly: "did you think I would break my
word, or feel any desire to go away and leave you?"

"I know you to be the most devoted of nurses, when it is I who require
your services," he returned, with a tenderly appreciative smile. "You
are the best of little wives. But you must be very weary, and I want you
now to go and take some exercise in the open air."

"Is that an order?" she asked playfully.

"Not yet," he returned, in the same tone; "but, if not obeyed as a
request, it may become--something stronger."

"Well," she said laughing, "it won't hurt me if it does: you can't hurt
me in that way any more; for do you know, Ned," and she bent lovingly
over him, pressing a kiss upo