the ceremony, sir, and make her my wife." But a new
thought entering his mind, he released Fanny, and said, "Pardon me, dear
Fanny; sorrow has well nigh bereft me of my senses. In my first joy in
finding you innocent, I forgot that you could not be mine, for you belong
to another--to Mr. Cameron."

"Cameron go to Thunder!" exclaimed Uncle Joshua, who was still standing
near. "That's another of Tempest's lies. She never was engaged to him;
never loved him, or any other mortal man, save yourself."

Here, Fanny, who, it will be remembered, was all this time ignorant of the
truth, asked if some one would not explain what she saw and heard. "I
will," said Dr. Lacey, "it is my duty to do so," and he led her to a
window, where he hurriedly told her all--everything which he himself knew,
intermingling his words with so much passionate embraces that his sanity
was much to be doubted. He had scarcely finished his story when Kate
approached him, saying, "For humanity's sake, Dr. Lacey, if you have any
skill, exert it in behalf of Julia, who seems to be dying."

Dr. Lacey arose, and winding his arm about Fanny, as if afraid he might
lose sight of her, moved toward the room where Julia lay. They had borne
her to the bridal chamber, which Fanny had arranged with so much care, and
as Dr. Lacey appeared at the door, Uncle Joshua met him and said, "I know
she sarved you mean, but I would not have her die. She is my own child,
and you must save her if you can." At the same time he pointed to Julia,
who lay in the same death-like trance, with the blood still issuing slowly
from her livid lips. All that Dr. Lacey could do, he did, but when Dr.
Gordon arrived, he gladly gave up his charge to him, and turned his
attention toward Fanny, who, overcome by what she had seen and heard, had
fainted, and been carried to her own room, where she was surrounded by
Mrs. Carrington, Florence and Mabel. These ladies ran against each other,
upset the camphor bottle, dropped the lamp and spilled half the cologne,
in their zealous efforts to take care of their patient!

In the midst of their confusion Dr. Lacey entered, and they immediately
gave up to him the task of restoring her. This he soon did, for it would
seem that his very voice had a power to recall Fanny's suspended
faculties. Slowly her eyes unclosed; then, as if wearied out, she again
closed them, and for a time slept sweetly, calmly, on Dr. Lacey's bosom.

The guests now began to depart, an