advice, and go and have a good sleep, and then you
can come and watch again."

"But if--"

"If anything happens, miss, I'll call you."

"You promise me?"

"Faithfully, miss. There, trust to me."

Lydia had risen, and she tottered as she took a step or two, when the
nurse caught her in her arms, and the poor girl's strength gave way
entirely now.

The nurse's confident words that Capel was getting better, robbed her of
the last bond of self-control, and, as the woman tenderly supported her,
and whispered a few soothing words, Lydia's head went down on the
nurse's breast, and she burst into a low, passionate fit of hysterical
tears.

"There, you'll be better now," whispered the nurse, as Lydia raised her
piteous white face. "Now go and have a few hours' sleep."

Lydia nodded, recovered her self-command, and went to the bed, bent over
and gazed earnestly in the patient's face, and then left the room.

"Poor dear!" said the nurse, after a glance at the patient, "how she
does love him! Ah, miss, how you made me jump!"

"Did I, nurse?" said Katrine. "I was obliged to come in gently. How is
he?"

"Better, miss, I think."

"That's well. You look very tired, nurse."

"Me, miss? Oh, dear, no."

"But your strength ought to be saved for nights. I can't watch at
night--I get too sleepy; but I can now, and I'll take your place."

"Do you really wish it, miss?"

"Yes. Please," said Katrine, firmly; and the woman quietly left the
room, to take no walk, but to go up to the chamber set apart for her
use, and, from long habit in catching rest when it could be found, she
threw herself upon her bed, and was soon breathing heavily--fast asleep.

In the adjoining room lay Lydia, with her eyes closed, hour after hour,
but painfully awake. No sleep would come to her weary brain, which
seemed to grow more terribly active as the time rolled on. She told
herself that her love for Capel was madness. Then hope tortured her
with the idea that he might turn to her, while her indignant maiden
nature bade her forget him and show more pride. "But he is poor," Hope
seemed to say; "his fortune is gone, and you are comparatively wealthy.
Wait, and he will love you yet."

There was a hopeful smile dawning upon her lips, as she softly left her
room, and went down the stairs, with a feeling of restful content in her
breast, and then her heart seemed to stand still, and a horrible feeling
of self-reproach attacked her as sh