lee thrilled over
them, when they found a sort of hush pervading the drawing-room, and saw
the faces of awe and consternation, worn by Blanche and George Rivers.

"It was a much worse attack than usual, and it did not go off," was
all that Blanche knew, but her father had desired to be told when Dr.
Spencer came home, and she went up with the tidings.

This brought Flora down, looking dreadfully pale, and with her voice
sunk away as it had been when she lost her child. Her husband started
up, exclaiming at her aspect; she let him support her to the sofa, and
gave the few particulars. Margaret had been as placid and comfortable as
usual, till nurse came to dress her, but the first move had brought on
the faintness and loss of breath. It did not yield to remedies, and
she had neither looked nor spoken since, only moaned. Flora thought her
father much alarmed; and then, after an interval, she began to entreat
that they might stay there, sending Miss Bracy and the children to the
Grange to make room.

Meantime, Dr. Spencer had come to the sick-room, but he could only
suggest remedies that were already in course of application to the
insensible sufferer. Mrs. Arnott and Ethel were watching, and trying
everything to relieve her, but with little effect, and Ethel presently
stood by the fire with her father, as Dr. Spencer turned towards him,
and he said, in a very low, but calm voice, "It won't do--I believe it
is the death-stroke."

"Not immediate," said Dr. Spencer.

"No," said Dr. May; and he quietly spoke of what the disease had
effected, and what yet remained for it to do, ere the silver bowl should
be broken.

Dr. Spencer put in a word of agreement.

"Will there be no rally?" said Ethel, in the same tone.

"Probably not," said Dr. May; "the brain is generally reached at this
stage. I have seen it coming for a long time. The thing was done seven
years ago. There was a rally for a time when youth was strong; but
suspense and sorrow accelerated what began from the injury to the
spine."

Dr. Spencer bowed his head, and looked at him anxiously, saying, "I do
not think there will be much acute suffering."

"I fear it may be as trying," said Dr. May, sighing; and then turning to
Ethel, and throwing his arm round her, "May God make it easy to her, and
grant us 'patient hearts.' We will not grudge her to all that she loves
best, my Ethel."

Ethel clung to him, as if to derive strength from him. But the strength
tha