continued more kindly, noticing for the first time how young she was,
and how terribly in earnest, "read it to her by all means. It will do
_you_ good, and it cannot do her harm."

She thanked him with tears in her eyes, and they both went back into the
sick-chamber together.

She had brought the book with her, so, turning at once to the place, she
began to read in a low, soft tone, with slow and measured accents,
well-suited to the subject and the measure as well as the purpose she
had in view.

At first it produced no visible effect, but she gradually became quieter
as Minnie proceeded and the hopes of the watchers rose. She did not
attempt to follow it at all till the line Minnie had caught so
distinctly was reached, and then she repeated it after her in the same
tone as before, and with the same triumphant emphasis on the words,
"Single, Echoless."

Then she went on with the lines following along with Minnie, her voice
growing gradually weaker and weaker as she proceeded:--

"It went up from the holy lips amid His lost creation
That of the lost no one should use those words of desolation--
That earth worst frenzies, marring hope, might mar not hope's fruition."

Here her voice died away, and she lay back with a long sigh of content.

"She's conscious!" exclaimed Minnie in a whisper as she closed the book,
"and the fever's gone. You said she would be safe--" and she stood with
bated breath while the doctor bent over her.

"Yes, the fever is gone," replied the doctor, "and she is safe--for
ever."

* * * * *

For some time Minnie could not bear to go near Hollowmell, so strongly
did its associations with her lost friend move her. Her father took her
away altogether for a while, and when she returned, though her grief was
in no way lessened, it was so much softened that she could resume her
work with a holier and tenderer interest in it, since it had been shared
by one who was now an angel of light.

There was also much sorrow felt among the inhabitants of Hollowmell, for
Mabel had made for herself many friends there, and her quiet goodness
made more impression than much of the activity which characterised the
greater number of the young ladies.

No one had thought very much about what Mabel was doing; the girls had
shown deference to her mainly because Minnie did so; and so none knew
how much good she had accomplished until it was too late to give her
credit for it. M