lity of
such a thing. He had joined his wife from India a month ago, at which
time she was, though in delicate, not in bad health, and he had never
left her since. They had crossed from Havre to Folkestone three days
before, and Mrs. Damer had not complained of any unusual sickness or
fatigue. She was a person of a highly excitable and nervous temperament,
and her appetite and spirit were variable; otherwise there had been
nothing in her state of health to call for anxiety on the part of her
friends.

Dr. Barlow listened to all these statements, and believed as much of
them as he chose. However he waived the subject of the cause of the
disaster; the fact that it had occurred was undeniable; and the remedies
for such emergencies were immediately resorted to. But all proved alike
ineffectual, for the simple reason that the irrevocable fiat had gone
forth, and Blanche Damer was appointed to die.

As the day wore on, and the case assumed a darker aspect, and the
doctor's prognostications became less hopeful, Colonel Damer worked
himself into a perfect frenzy of fear.

"Save her, Dr. Barlow," he had said to that gentleman, in the insane
manner in which people are used to address the Faculty, as if it was in
their power to do more than help the efforts of nature. "Save her life,
for God's sake! and there is nothing that I can do for you, of earthly
good, that shall not be yours. Shall I call in other advice? Shall I
telegraph to London? Is there anyone there who can save her? It is my
life as well as hers that is trembling in the scale. For the love of
heaven, do not stand on ceremony, but only tell me what is best to be
done!"

Of course Dr. Barlow told him that if he was not perfectly satisfied, he
should wish him to telegraph to town for further advice, and mentioned
several names celebrated in such cases; at the same time he assured
Colonel Damer that he did not believe any number of doctors could do
more for the patient than he was doing, and that it was impossible to
guess at the probable termination of the illness for some days to come.

Bella Clayton gave up the duty of amusing her guests, and stationed
herself at the bedside of her cousin; and the unhappy husband wandered
in and out of the room like a ghost; trying to think upon each fresh
visit, that there was a slight improvement in the symptoms, and spending
the intervening time in praying for the life which he fondly imagined
had been devoted to himself. Me