had almost despaired of ever seeing her sleep again,
there came an uninterrupted hour of repose from sheer weariness; and
then wide-open hollow eyes--a changed voice sounding with the
question--"Bella! have I been ill?" and Mrs. Damer's delirium was over.

Over with her life. For on his next visit Dr. Barlow found her sensible
but cold and pulseless, and broke to her friends the news that twelve
hours more would end her existence.

Colonel Damer went wild, and telegraphed at once to London for men who
arrived when his wife was ready to be coffined. Bella heard the decree
and wept silently; and a great gloom fell upon the guests of Molton
Chase, who had been left altogether on poor Harry's hands since Mrs.
Damer's illness.

The dying woman lay very silent and exhausted for some time after she
had waked from that brief, memory-restoring sleep. When she next spoke,
she said, observing her cousin's swollen eyes--

"Am I dying, Bella?"

Poor little Mrs. Clayton did not at all know what answer to make to such
a direct question, but she managed to stammer out something which,
whatever it was meant for, was taken as affirmative by the one it most
concerned.

"I thought so. Shall I never be able to get out of bed again?"

"I am afraid not, darling--you are so weak!"

"Yes, I am--I can hardly raise my hand. And yet I must rise if I can. I
have something so particular to do."

"Cannot I do it for you, Blanche?"

"_Will_ you do it, Bella?"

"Anything--everything, love! How can you ask me?"

"And you will promise secrecy? Let me look in your face. Yes, it is a
true face, as it has ever been, and I can trust you. Have the black box
moved out of my room before I die, Bella--mind, _before_ I die, and
placed in your own dressing-room."

"What, dear, your linen box?"

"Yes, my linen box, or whatever you choose to call it. Take it away _at
once_, Bella. Tell no one; and when I am dead, have it buried in my
grave. Surely you could manage so much for me!"

"And Colonel Damer?"

"If you speak to him about it, Bella, or to your husband, or to any one,
I'll never forgive you, and I'm dying!" cried Mrs. Damer, almost rising
in her excitement. "Oh! why have I delayed it so long, why did I not see
to this before? I cannot even die in peace."

"Yes, yes, dearest Blanche, I will do it, indeed I will," said Mrs.
Clayton, alarmed at her emotion; "and no one shall know of it but
myself. Shall I send it to my room at once? You ma