Year: 1876

Never had the days seemed so long to Mrs.
Lyndon as those which she passed in the sick
room of her sister. Apart from the wearying
occupation of nursing a fretful and very ex-
acting invalid, whose stages of convalescence
we're marked by transitions from fits OF cross
ton Vas not one to eahs5 anxiety 81 aaf% a
she had the constant thought of her husbands
miserable state to cucumber her mind, and
add to her depression. Her daughters, anx-
ious to cheer her, wrote as brightly as they
could but she detected an under-current of
encouragement and sadness in their letters,
which convinced her that there was no im-
provement in home.afairs. She longed, with
all her heart, to be with them again; yet she
reproached herself for what seemed almost
like lack of sisterly feeling, and was careful
to give no sign, in word or action, of her I'M
patience to be released from her post.


Never had she felt more thankful, howev.
or. than when letter came from the niece
who lived with her sister, saying that she was
about to return home. Three weeks had al
ready passed. longer period than she had
expected to be delayed +; and she got herself
in readiness to depart as soon as practicable
after this y"ung lady's arrival.


'You are in dreadful hurry to 60, Mar
garet," said her sister rather complainingly,
when she told her of her intention. "We
don't see so much of each other but what you
might be willing to spare me little more OF
your time, now you are here"


Nothing short of absolute necessity, howev-
er, would have induced Mrs. Lyndon to pro.
long her visit, even at the risk of being
thought cold hearted; and she took leave with
promises to repeat the visit at some future
period, when she would be able to spare more
time from her home duties, and when her Sis
ter's health would be such as to admit of
more enjoyment in their intercourse. Once
more Oh the cars, she seemed to breathe freely,
and looked forward with impatient eargerness
to a reunion with those who occupied the
foremost place in her interest and affection.


The journey occupied day and half.
She started early in the morning, and at one
o'clock on the following afternoon stopped at
the little station, couple of miles from home,
where the horse and buggy we're waiting for
her, as she had written to them to expect her
on that day. She had hoped her husband
would have driven down for her; but SER
want came to meet her instead.


care all we'll, William?" she anxiously in
quired.


Gail but the Captain, am" said the
man. "He was taken very bad last night,
and master thinks it's doubtful whether he
will live."


Much shocked, Mrs. Lyndon asked for the
particulars of the attack; but William could
not give very satisfactory account. All he
knew was that the Captain had rung his bell
in the night, and on going up he had found
him groaning in great pain, and Mr.. Lyndon
already with him. The rector had sent him
at once with message to the doctor, but
the latter, who lived FIVE miles of, had been
absent from home, and nothing had yet been
seen Of him when he started for the station.


"My poor brother" sighed Mrs. Lyndon.
"Drive quickly, William. How thankful l
am that did not put off coming any longer


Twenty minutes brought them to the par
sonage gate. The rector fastened out to
meet his wife. His face was deadly pale, and
his manner greatly sgitated {; yet the express
ion of his eountenance, as he assisted her to
alight, was more open and natural than 1t
had been of late.


"Thank Heaven, you are come" he ex-
claimed, as he fervently embraced her. Il
have longed unspeakably for your return. |
cannot describe to you what I have suffered
in the past twelve hoursP


Something in his tone convinced her that
he spoke of deeper suffering than that caused
by his brothers illness yet in spite of this
she experienced sort of relief, in the feeling
that she saw him restored in some degree to
his former self. The clasp Of his hand, as he
led her into the house, spoke welcome as
warm as she could desire. He had not been so
tender to her for months past. She could
see, however, that he was laboring under some
strong mental pressure, and longed, yet did
not venture, to ask him to unburden himself
to her.


As they entered the hall the girls came run
ming down to meet her, full of delight, which
even their uncle's illness could not wholly
check, at her return and there was no op-