y trust entirely to my
discretion. Pray, have no fear!"

"Yes! at once--directly; it cannot be too soon!" said Mrs. Damer,
falling back exhausted on her pillow. So a servant was called, and the
iron-clamped box was carried away from the sick-room and secreted in
Mrs. Clayton's private apartment. Mrs. Damer seemed so weak, that her
cousin suggested summoning her husband to her side, but she appeared to
shrink from an interview with him.

"I have nothing to say but what will make him sad to think of
afterwards," she murmured. "Let me die with you alone, dear Bella. It is
better so."

So Colonel Damer, although he went backwards and forwards all the night,
was not called at any particular moment to see the last of his wife, and
Blanche had her wish. She died alone with her faithful little cousin
before the morning broke. As she was just going, she said, in a vague
sort of manner--

"Tell him, Bella, that I forgive him as I hope to be forgiven. And that
I have seen Heaven open to-night, and a child spirit pleading with the
Woman-born for us; and that the burden is lifted off my soul at last."
And then she added solemnly--"I will arise and go to my Father--," and
went before she could finish the sentence.

Innocent Bella repeated her last message in perfect faith to Colonel
Damer.

"She told me to tell you, that she felt herself forgiven, and that she
had seen Heaven opened for her, and the weight of her sins was lifted
off her soul. Oh! Colonel Damer, pray think of that, and take comfort.
She is happier than you could make her."

But the poor faithful husband was, for the present, beyond all reach of
comfort.

The London doctors arrived with the daylight, and had to be solemnly
entertained at breakfast, and warmed and comforted before they were
despatched home again. The Christmas guests were all packing up their
boxes, preparatory to taking their leave of Molton Chase, for it was
impossible to think of festivities with such a bereavement in the house.
And Harry Clayton told his wife that he was very thankful that they
thought of doing so.

"It has been a most unfortunate business altogether, Bella, and of
course they all felt it, poor things; and the more so because they could
take no active part in it. The house has had a pall over it the last
week; and it would have been still worse if they had remained. As for
Laurence, I never saw a man so cut up. He has eaten nothing since your
poor cousin was taken ill.