\"to be sure, i shall. i felt like a great hypocrite to-night, sitting there inmy white silk gown, with my idle hands before me, when i rememberedall the good, thorough, house-work they had done to-day. they took me

for a fine lady, i\"m sure.\"

\"even i was mistaken enough to think you looked like a lady my dear,\"

said mr. hale, quietly smiling.

but smiles were changed to white and trembling looks, when they sawdixon\"s face, as she opened the door.

\"oh, master!--oh, miss margaret! thank god you are e! dr.

donaldson is here. the servant next door went for him, for thecharwoman is gone home. she\"s better now; but, oh, sir! i thought she\"dhāve died an hour ago.\"

mr. hale caught margaret\"s arm to steady himself from falling. helooked at her face, and saw an expression upon it of surprise andextremest sorrow, but not the agony of terror that contracted his ownunprepared heart. she knew more than he did, and yet she listened withthat hopeless expression of awed apprehension.

\"oh! i should not hāve left her--wicked daughter that i am!\" moanedforth margaret, as she supported her trembling father\"s hasty steps upstairs.

dr. donaldson met them on the landing.

\"she is better now,\" he whispered. \"the opiate has taken effect. thespasms were very bad: no wonder they frightened your maid; but she\"llrally this time.\"

\"this time! let me go to her!\" half an hour ago, mr. hale was a middle-aged man; now his sight was dim, his senses wāvering, his walktottering, as if he were seventy years of age.

dr. donaldson took his arm, and led him into the bedroom. margaretfollowed close. there lay her mother, with an unmistakable look on herface. she might be better now; she was sleeping, but death had signedher for his own, and it was clear that ere long he would return to takepossession. mr. hale looked at her for some time without a word. thenhe began to shake all over, and, turning away from dr. donaldson\"sanxious care, he groped to find the door; he could not see it, althoughseveral candles, brought in the sudden affright, were burning and flaringthere. he staggered into the drawing-room, and felt about for a chair.

dr. donaldson wheeled one to him, and placed him in it. he felt hispulse.

\"speak to him, miss hale. we must rouse him.\"

\"papa!\" said margaret, with a crying voice that was wild with pain.

\"papa! speak to me!\" the speculation came again into his eyes, and hemade a great effort.

\"margaret, did you know of this? oh, it was cruel of you!\"

\"no, sir, it was not cruel!\" replied dr. donaldson, with quick decision.

..^t-。

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