warning she received from him. Fred, too weak for
much argument, and not unwilling to rejoice now and then in an illusion,
was easily silenced, and Aunt Geoffrey had no time for anyone but the
patient. Her whole thought, almost her whole being, was devoted to
"Mary," the friend, the sister of her childhood, whom she now attended
upon with something of the reverent devotedness with which an angel
might be watched and served, were it to make a brief sojourn upon earth;
feeling it a privilege each day that she was still permitted to attend
her, and watching for each passing word and expression as a treasure to
be dwelt on in many a subsequent year.

It could not be thus with Henrietta, bent on seeing no illness, on
marking no traces of danger; shutting her eyes to all the tokens that
her mother was not to be bound down to earth for ever. She found her
always cheerful, ready to take interest in all that pleased her, and
still with the playfulness which never failed to light up all that
approached her. A flower,--what pleasure it gave her! and how sweet her
smile would be!

It was on the evening of the day after the physician's visit, that
Henrietta came in talking, with the purpose of, as she fancied, cheering
her mother's spirits, of some double lilac primroses which Mrs. Langford
had promised her for the garden at the Pleasance. Her mamma smelt the
flowers, admired them, and smiled as she said, "Your papa planted a root
of those in my little garden the first summer I was here."

"Then I am sure you will like to have them at the Pleasance, mamma."

"My dear child,"--she paused, while Henrietta started, and gazed upon
her, frightened at the manner--"you must not build upon our favourite
old plan; you must prepare--"

"O but, mamma, you are better! You are so much better than two days ago;
and these clear days do you so much good; and it is all so bright."

"Thanks to Him Who has made it bright!" said her mother, taking her
hand. "But I fear, my own dearest, that it will seem far otherwise to
you. I want you to make up your mind--"

Henrietta broke vehemently upon the feeble accents. "Mamma! mamma!
you must not speak so! It is the worst thing people can do to think
despondingly of themselves. Aunt Geoffrey, do tell her so!"

"Despondingly! my child; you little know what the thought is to me!"

The words were almost whispered, and Henrietta scarcely marked them.

"No, no, you must not! It is too cruel to me,--I can