icians at Mr. Hardy's request. It was a singular case, and nothing
special could be done. This was the unanimous opinion after deep
consultation, and after remaining some time the doctors had withdrawn.

When it grew dark, Alice started to turn on the lights, but her father
said: "Let us sit in the firelight." So they drew close together, and
in an awe looked upon him who seemed so sure that. God would call him
away at midnight. Who shall recount the words that were uttered? the
exact sentences spoken? the fears and hopes and petitions and tears of
the wife? the commands of the father to his boys to grow up into the
perfect manhood in Jesus Christ? the sweet words of love and courage
that passed between him and his wife and daughters? These things
cannot be described; they can only be imagined.

So the night passed. It was after eleven o'clock; the conversation had
almost ceased and all were sitting hushed in a growing silence, when
Clara spoke again, so suddenly and clearly that they were all startled
and awed by it:

"Father! mother! where have I been? I have had such a dream! Where
are you? Where am I?"

Mrs. Hardy arose, and with tears streaming down her face kneeled beside
the bed and in a few words recalled Clara to her surroundings. The
girl had come out of her strange unconsciousness with all her faculties
intact. Gradually she recalled the past, the accident, the dream of
her father. She smiled happily on them all, and they for a while
forgot the approach of midnight and its possible meaning to Mr.
Hardy--all but himself. He kneeled by the bed, at the side of his
wife, and thanked God that his dear one was restored. Suddenly he rose
to his feet and spoke aloud, quietly, but clearly: "Did you not hear
someone calling?" His face was pale but peaceful. He bent down and
kissed Clara, embraced his sons, drew his wife to him, and placed his
hand on Bessie's head; then, as if in answer to a command, he gently
kneeled down again by his chair and as his lips moved in prayer the
clock struck once more the hour of twelve. He continued kneeling
there, nearer God than he had ever been in all his life before.

Thus Robert Hardy's Seven Days came to an end.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBERT HARDY'S SEVEN DAYS***

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