rom beneath the head of his child, and scattering her
hair, in a thousand glossy tresses, over the floor. "What is to be done
now? I suppose the religious people would call this sowing dragon's
teeth with a vengeance. I wish the girl had more coolness; there is no
managing events against weak nerves and hysterics--but she must be
soothed; at this rate, we shall have the whole house in commotion. Lina,
my child, make an effort to be calm. Look up, I am not angry with you!"

The old man was so encased and wrapped in self-love, that he really
believed his own severe words had alone dashed the strength from those
young limbs, and that a little gentle encouragement would make all right
again. So, stooping downward, he laid his soft, white hand, upon Lina's
head, as the last words were uttered; and, when this failed, made an
effort to lift her from the floor. But the leaden weight of utter
insensibility rendered more effort necessary, and, at last really
frightened, he arose and lifted the insensible girl in his arms.

That moment, as her pale face lay upon his bosom, and her loosened hair
fell in floods over his arm, the door softly opened, and Agnes Barker
looked in.

"Did you ring, General? I heard a bell ring somewhere."

"No, I did not ring, young lady," answered General Harrington, sharply,
"but this young lady has been over-fatigued someway, or was taken
suddenly ill as I was speaking of her studies."

A faint smile crept over Agnes' lips, but she checked it in an instant,
and moved forward with an air of gentle interest.

"She has studied very hard of late, no wonder her strength gave way,"
suggested Agnes, softly smoothing the hair back from Lina's forehead.

There seemed to be fascination in the movement of those treacherous
fingers, for they had scarcely touched her brow, when Lina started to
life with a shudder, as if the rattlesnake of the hill had sprung upon
her unawares.

Casting one wild look upon the female, and another upon the General, she
drew from his arm, with a sensation of loathing that made her faint
again.

"Let me go to my room--I must be alone!" she said, with a hand pressed
upon either temple. "The air of this place drives me frantic: so
close--so dreary--so--so"----

She moved away wavering in her walk, but making feeble motions with her
hand, as if to repel all assistance. Thus faint, pale, and almost
broken-hearted, the poor girl stole away, to weep over her new-born
shame.

"She