ers. Mrs. Crampton made jellies and soups, the little
larder at Mayfield Villas was filled to overflowing. Mrs. Broderick
took it all gratefully, and gave her nurses no trouble. "I am under
orders," she would say, with a pitiful attempt at her old drollery; but
only Olivia, who loved and understood her, ever guessed at the sadness
of those days of convalescence.

One evening, as they were together in the twilight, Olivia ventured to
hint at this depression; she was waiting for Marcus to come and fetch
her, for they were to dine at Galvaston House.

"Is it because you are too weak to feel cheerful, dear Aunt Madge?" she
asked, tenderly; but Mrs. Broderick shook her head.

"It is because I am a coward," she returned, with a spirit of her old
energy. "Ah, Livy, I am ashamed to tell you what a coward I have been;
but I simply felt as though I could not face it. Let me explain
myself; I feel strong enough to talk, and it may do me good. Dear
child, dearest Livy," stroking her hand, "you have been such a comfort
to me! Do you remember that night when I told you I was not going to
die? Well, I had had a wonderful dream, a vision rather, for I shall
always think it one. I thought that I was wandering in some strange
place, some vast emptiness where there was nothing human but myself,
and that I came suddenly to a wide arched portal that seemed to reach
to the stars, and I said to myself, 'this is the Gate of Paradise.' As
I stood on the threshold I could see a green space like a valley bathed
in sunlight, and I even noticed the white starry flowers growing
everywhere, and then I saw my dear Fergus, looking just as he did in
life, only somehow with a grander and more peaceful look on his dear
face, and he was leading our little Malcolm by the hand. I thought I
kissed them both, and clung to them in a perfect ecstasy of joy, but
Fergus looked at me in such a tender solemn way. 'Not yet, Madge,' he
said, 'your work is not quite done yet; the Master has sent me to tell
you so; be patient, true heart. When the time comes, Malcolm and I
will be here.' And then I felt myself falling, and when I opened my
eyes I saw you sitting there by the bedside."

"What a sweet dream, dearest!"

"Yes, I am beginning to feel the comfort of it now; but that night I
felt as though my heart were broken to be so near and then to have to
go back; but, Livy, I am trying to say it--'Thy will, not mine, be
done.' God's will--not ours; su