rother Philip," replied Sidney, sobbing. "I
wish I had never--never gone with you."

A flash of lightning, that illuminated the whole heavens, lingered round
Sidney's pale face as he spoke; and Philip threw himself instinctively
on the child, as if to protect him even from the wrath of the
unshelterable flame. Sidney, hushed and terrified, clung to his
brother's breast; after a pause, he silently consented to resume their
journey. But now the storm came nearer and nearer to the wanderers.
The darkness grew rapidly more intense, save when the lightning lit up
heaven and earth alike with intolerable lustre. And when at length the
rain began to fall in merciless and drenching torrents, even Philip's
brave heart failed him. How could he ask Sidney to proceed, when they
could scarcely see an inch before them?--all that could now be done was
to gain the high-road, and hope for some passing conveyance. With fits
and starts, and by the glare of the lightning, they obtained their
object; and stood at last on the great broad thoroughfare, along which,
since the day when the Roman carved it from the waste, Misery hath
plodded, and Luxury rolled, their common way.

Philip had stripped handkerchief, coat, vest, all to shelter Sidney;
and he felt a kind of strange pleasure through the dark, even to hear
Sidney's voice wail and moan. But that voice grew more languid and
faint--it ceased--Sidney's weight hung heavy--heavier on the fostering
arm.

"For Heaven's sake, speak!--speak, Sidney!--only one word--I will carry
you in my arms!"

"I think I am dying," replied Sidney, in a low murmur; "I am so tired
and worn out I can go no further--I must lie here." And he sank at once
upon the reeking grass beside the road.. At this time the rain
gradually relaxed, the clouds broke away--a grey light succeeded to the
darkness--the lightning was more distant; and the thunder rolled onward
in its awful path. Kneeling on the ground, Philip supported his brother
in his arms, and cast his pleading eyes upward to the softening terrors
of the sky. A star, a solitary star-broke out for one moment, as if to
smile comfort upon him, and then vanished. But lo! in the distance there
suddenly gleamed a red, steady light, like that in some solitary window;
it was no will-o'-the-wisp, it was too stationary--human shelter was
then nearer than he had thought for. He pointed to the light, and
whispered, "Rouse yourself, one struggle more--it cannot be far off."