d,
nervous woman with undeserved reproaches and threats, he arose and left
the room.

And can any one be surprised that her illness was increased, and her
fever arose and her senses wandered all night? When her mother was ill,
Jacquelina could not sleep. Now she sat by her bedside sponging her hot
hands and keeping ice to her head and giving drink to slake her burning
thirst and listening, alas! to her sad and rambling talk about their
being turned adrift in the world to starve to death, or to perish in the
snow--calling on her daughter to save them both by yielding to her
uncle's will! And Jacquelina heard and understood, and wept and
sighed--a new experience to the poor girl, who was

"Not used to tears at night
Instead of slumber!"

All through the night she nursed her with unremitting care. And in the
morning, when the fever waned, and the patient was wakeful, though
exhausted, she left her only to bring the refreshing cup of tea and
plate of toast prepared by her own hands.

But when she brought it to the bedside the pale invalid waved it away.
She felt as if she could not eat. Fear had clutched her throat and would
not relax its hold.

"I want to talk to you, Jacquelina," she said.

"Eat and drink first, Mimmy, and then you and I will have such another
good talk!" said Jacquelina, coaxingly.

"I can't! Oh! I can't swallow a mouthful, I am choking now!"

"Oh! that is nothing but the hysterics, Mimmy! 'high strikes,' as Jenny
calls them! I feel like I should have them myself sometimes! Come! cheer
up, Mimmy! Your fever is off and your head is cool! Come, take this
consoling cup of tea and bit of toast, and you will feel so much
stronger and cheerfuler."

"Tea! Oh! everything I eat and drink in this unhappy house is
bitter--the bitter cup and bitter bread of dependence!"

"Put more sugar into it, then, Mimmy, and sweeten it! Come! Things are
not yet desperate! Cheer up!"

"What do you mean, my love? Have you consented to be married to Dr.
Grimshaw?"

"No! St. Mary! Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Jacquelina, shuddering for the
first time.

"Now, why 'heaven forbid?' Oh! my child, why are you so perverse? Why
won't you take him, since your uncle has set his heart upon the match?"

"Oh, mother!"

"I know you are very young to be married--too young! far too young! Only
sixteen, gracious heaven! But then you know we have no alternative but
that, or starvation; and it is not as if you were to be married to