night. I felt uneasy about you, and sat up to listen if you should
call for any thing, until I heard you fall," said May, in a low, clear,
and distinct voice.

"Fall?"

"Then, sir, I ran up here, and found you on the floor, so ill--so very
ill," said May, hesitating, always unwilling to speak of her own acts.

"What then?"

"I did all that I could, sir, until the doctor came," she said.

"And that means _every thing_, Mr. Stillinghast. She saved your life.
She used the best remedies; she put ice about your head, and bled you.
When I came you were out of danger; but be calm, sir; let me beseech
you to be calm," said the doctor.

"Did you do all this, little May?" he asked, looking earnestly at her
with his piercing gray eyes.

"Yes, sir; I had read that such remedies were necessary."

"_Why_ did you do it, little one? My life or death is of no interest
to _you_. Tell me _why_ you did it?" he whispered.

"Oh, dear uncle, forgive me!" said May, while her tears dripped like
rain-drops on her wan cheek; "I knew that you had made no preparation
for death. I would have died that you might live long enough to effect
a reconciliation with Heaven."

"Profit--gain--loss--loss--loss!" he murmured; then suddenly he put up
his feeble hand, and drawing May's face closer to him, kissed her
cheek. "If it is not too late, pray for me!" he whispered, in tones so
low that she scarcely heard them.

"Not too late. Oh no, dear uncle, it is not too late," said May,
smoothing back the tangled gray hair from his sunken temples.

"Mr. Stillinghast, my dear sir, I fear that you are exciting yourself.
I would recommend quiet, composure; indeed, sir, it is absolutely
necessary in your case," said the doctor, looking on uneasily.

"It will make no difference, sir. I know full well whose finger has
touched me. Do you know that I cannot move my left side?" said the old
man in his firm, stern way.

"I feared it," said the doctor, turning away to conceal the expression
of pain which this information caused him; "but it _may_ pass off, _you
may_ quite recover yet, sir. A cup of weak tea would be good for our
patient," he said to May.

May glided out of the room, followed by the gaze of the stricken old
man, to prepare it for him. She ran up to awaken Helen, and told her
that their uncle was dangerously ill. "Dress, dear Helen, and go to
him immediately, while I get a cup of tea for him."

"How very pale you are, May! Is he