, and he began to breathe the air
from the New England hills and the perfume of the New England lilies,
the flesh rebelled again, and he cried out within himself: "Oh, I cannot
be blind! God will not deal thus by me!" while keen as the cut of a
sharpened knife was the pang with which he thought of Katy, and wondered
would she care if he were blind.

Just then the long train stopped at Silverton, and, led by his
attendant, he stepped feebly into the crowd, which sent up deafening
cheers for Dr. Grant come home again. At the sight of his helplessness,
however, a feeling of awe fell upon them, and whispering to each other,
"I did not suppose he was so bad," they pressed around him, offering
their hands and inquiring anxiously how he was.

"I have been sick, but I shall get better now. The very sound of your
friendly voices does me good, even though I cannot see you distinctly,"
he said, as he went slowly to his carriage, led now by Uncle Ephraim,
who could not keep back his tears as he saw how weak Morris was, panting
for breath as he leaned back among the cushions.

It was very pleasant that afternoon, and Morris enjoyed the drive so
much, assuring Uncle Ephraim that he was growing better every moment. He
did seem stronger when at last the carriage stopped at Linwood, and his
step was more rapid as he went up the steps where Helen, Katy and Mrs.
Hull were waiting for him. He could not see them sufficiently to
distinguish one from the other, but even without the aid of her voice he
would have known when Katy's hand was put in his, it was so small, so
soft, and trembled so as he held it. Her cap had been worn for nothing,
nor did she think of it in her sorrow at finding him so helpless. Pity
was the strongest feeling of which she was conscious, and it manifested
itself in various ways.

"Let me lead you, Cousin Morris," she said, as she saw him groping his
way to his room, and without waiting for his reply, she held his hand
again in hers and led him to his room, where the sweet English violets
were.

"I used to lead you, Katy," Morris said, as he took his seat by the
window, "and I little thought then that you would one day return the
compliment. It is very hard to be blind."

The tone of his voice was inexpressibly sad, but his smile was as
cheerful as ever as his face turned toward Katy, who could not answer
for her tears. It seemed so terrible to see a strong man so stricken,
and that strong man Morris--terrible