Year: 1874

him badly now, as it sometimes did, and h
wanted to have it rubbed, but was afraid tt
run the risk of unskillful handling, lest his in
iured arm, which still required great care
might suffer in consequence. At last, howev
er, his discomfort got the better Of his fears
and with sort of impatient groan he ex
claimed


any shoulder pains me horribly! Coul'
you rub it little for me, Mrs. -|


"Mrs. Norton" said the house-keeper, start
ing up directly, at the sound of his voice
She came forward with q curious mixture o
shrinking and eagerness in her manner, ant
seating herself by the bedside commenced
at once to perform the desired duty. Light
ly and deftly her soft hands glided over hi
shoulder; they seemed to possess soothing
charm, that even Charity's broad strong
palms had failed to impart, for they had neve
brought him such speedy sense of relief a
he experienced now. He was agreeaby sur
priscd, and thanked her very gratefully whel
the numb, wearying pain was removed. Al
the time she sat there, her eyes dwelt search
ingly on his face, save when he turned it to
ward her, and then she instantly looked
away her futtering breath, her varying color
her rapt devouring gaze, would have betrayed
to him the secret stirring of some powerful
emotion, had he noted them; but he did not
for he was only thinking Of the comfort sh'
had Just afforded him, and congratulatin@
himself on the discovery that she could b'
useful and efficient after all.


"Poor thing" he reflected, II suppose sht
was frightened and timid at first; and per
haps I was rather cross to her. But when 6
fellows nerves are in such a state as mine, it il
enough to shake them to have any one JUMP
back and smash glass in that way. What
was the matter wondeY anyhow? l CAM
make it out yet"


Severa times afterward he caught himself
speculating on this question, but he could hno
no eucidaton to the puzzle. Something III
the behavior of his attendant struck him still
as being peculiar, and at times little annoy
ing she had the oldest way, when he called
on her for anything, of keeping as much out
of his sight as possible while she waited on
him, contriving either to stand in the shadow
of the curtains, or to interpose some Other
screen between her face and him; yet she
found various pretexts for lowering constantly
round the bed, now smoothing the covering
now laying her handkerchief down on it and
then returning to remove it, now offering te
shake up his pillow, or bathe his head, unit
he was obliged to say he would rather be quiet
when she retreated precipitately out of sight
and sat so quiet in distant corner that he
half thought he must have offended her.


"Do go and lie down." he said at last, wher
the clock had struck eleven, and he needed
nothing more for several hours. II CAM
sleep while you are sitting there without any
rest"


Without word, Mrs. Norton rose, and
obediently glided into the adjoining room.


"She moves likes ghost" muttered sgd
ney. "I'd rather hear Charity snoring any
time"


The housekeeper felt no inclination to close
her eyes in sleep. She sat, without stirring, on
the edge ofthe lounge that had been arranged
for her accommodation, until she became
aware, from Sydney's deep, regular breathing
that he lost, for the present, all consciousness Of
outward things then, with slipperless feet, she
crept back into his chamber, and standing al
the foot of his bed, where she could distinctly
see him, yet could without difficulty retire out
of sight should he give indications of awaken
ing, she scrutinized his features with the in.
tent look one sometimes bestows on the face
of the dead, soon to be removed out of the
reach of human eyes, as if in that fixed gaze
to imprint his lineaments indelibly on het
memory. Motionless she stood, at first, as a
marble statue, her pale face rigidly set, her
hands clasped, her large dark eyes never stir
ring from the sick man; but presently q
change came over her her lips parted, and
quivcred as if with voiceless prayer a look
fagony swept over her face, her whole frame
bowed, and sank, trembling, to the hoor while
her hands were raised supplicatingly above
her dropping head it was as if a storm ofan.
guish, irresistible in its might, was crushing
and quelling her. For more than an hour
she sat thus, swaying silently to and fro, rock
ing the misery cradled at her hoart. Then a
fancied movement of the sleeper startled her
she rose, and moving as lightly as before,
quickly retreated to the dressing-room again
Back and forth, many times during the night
she glided thus, never daring again to stay
very long for fear of detection, but unable
apparently to resist the desire ofwatching him
unseen.


To Sydney's disappointment, Charity was
not we'll enough the next day to resume her
office of nurse she had cold and fever, and
would probably be laid aside for several days
When Mrs. Norton heard of it, she went di
rectly to Ellinor, and offered to give up all
her time, outside of her housekeeping duties
to attend upon the patient.


"You are very good" said Ellinor, "but
am afraid it will be rather heavy responsible
ity upon you. You don't look strong, and
the duties of a sick-nurse are very fatiguing.
| "Oh! l am quite strong-I assure you
am ' said the house-keeper, eagerly. Il have
often sat up for several nights together, and
not minded it at ALL I can very easily do it
! if you will allow me-"


! "Well, of course it will be a great kind
ness" said Ellinor, "and you need not trouble
yourself about the housekeeping, for I vii
! tnka oil thnt off uonr hands while vnn arf