ow that I told. I wish mamma was here!"

Aunt Geoffrey tried to relieve the pain by cold applications, but could
not succeed, and Fred grew more and more alarmed.

"The inflammation is coming back!" he cried, in an agony of apprehension
that almost overcame the sense of pain. "I shall be in danger--I shall
lose my senses--I shall die! Mamma! O! where is mamma?"

"Lie still, my dear Fred," said Mrs. Geoffrey Langford, laying her hand
on him so as to restrain his struggling movements to turn round or to
sit up. "Resistance and agitation will hurt you more than anything else.
You must control yourself, and trust to me, and you may be sure I will
do the best in my power for you. The rest is in the hands of God."

"Then you think me very ill?" said Fred, trying to speak more
composedly.

"I think you will certainly make yourself very ill, unless you will
keep yourself quiet, both mind and body. There--" she settled him as
comfortably as she could: "Now I am going away for a few minutes. Make
a resolution not to stir till I come back. Stephens is here, and I shall
soon come back."

This was very unlike the way in which his mother used to beseech him as
a favour to spare her, and yet his aunt's tone was so affectionate, as
well as so authoritative, that he could not feel it unkind. She left
the room, and as soon as she found herself alone in the passage, leant
against the wall and trembled, for she felt herself for a moment quite
overwhelmed, and longed earnestly for her husband to think for her,
or even for one short interval in which to reflect. For this, however,
there was no time, and with one earnest mental supplication, summoning
up her energies, she walked on to the person whom she at that moment
most dreaded to see, her sister-in-law. She found her sitting in her
arm-chair, Henrietta with her, both looking very anxious, and she was
glad to find her prepared.

"What is it?" was the first eager question.

"He has been attempting rather too much of late," was the answer, "and
has knocked himself up. I came to tell you, because I think I had better
stay with him, and perhaps you might miss me."

"O no, no, pray go to him. Nothing satisfies me so well about him as
that you should be there, except that I cannot bear to give you so much
trouble. Don't stay here answering questions. He will be so restless if
he misses you--"

"Don't you sit imagining, Mary; let Henrietta read to you."

This proposal made Henrietta