them, listened to its chest, warmed and
fomented, worked hard with the bellows, until
suddenly the doctor leaped up and said, "Thank
God, we are in time after all."

But the unhappy father, removed from that
place up-stairs, had come to himself. His grief
had taken a new shape—of vengeance. "I
knew it! God's justice may overtake him. The
villain plotted it. God punish him for it! He
came here for it. And you brought us to this
wretched house for the same thing. But I shall
live to be revenged. I told you so. The vile black
villain! He murdered my poor wife, and now
comes to destroy my poor, poor child. Let
him come and kill me—now—no, but he shan't;
I shall live, live to destroy him, if only for
that. Where is he? where is he? Let me find
him!"

It was hard to restrain him. Was there ever
such a change as from that house in the morning,
to the present scene! Then he forced himself
from those who were trying to keep him. But,
as he was tottering down, met the doctor.

"Good news, friend," he said. "I knew
we'd do, if we only worked on hard enough.
Now, no flutterings and agitation. Think, you
are a man, and show an example to the ladies."

Colonel Howard's eyes moved slowly
upwards in deep and devout thankfulness.

"Come down with me," said the doctor;
"you may now. The poor boy is beginning to
move and stir. The warmth is coming into
him, but you may be sure all danger is gone."

"God is too good to me," said the colonel,
hurrying after him.

There was a perfect tumult in the kitchen,
for as they entered, the faithful Andy was leaving
it, carrying the child in his arms. The child's
head hung over drooping, but his eyes were
opening languidly. Through the haze it saw a
figure it knew, and a faint tiny voice called
out, "Papa, papa!"

*               *               *               *               *

That evening, when the little fellow was in
bed, warm, glowing with prescribed stimulants,
half dozing and half waking, but now happily
leagues away from the fatal region of eternal
sleep, and people in the house had time to think
of others, there were some who recalled a
shrinking cowering figure that was now outside
the house, now flitting on the stairs from a
presence it dared not meet. The doctor was
saying comfortably, as he drew on his gloves,
"Now I may go, and beyond a look in
tomorrow morning, you won't want me again."
Who noticed this phantom? " Where's our
friend," he said, " his brother—what is he
about?"

Colonel Howard took Mrs. Winter's hand.
"Not now," he said; " you will see him, for I
cannot. Perhaps we do him injustice. But
still it is better for all. I shall try to forgive—
if possible, forget. Thank the Almighty Lord
for all, who so interposed and saved both me
and him, and did not leave an old broken man
to misery and despair for the last few days of
his life."

"Well," said the doctor, " a man can do no
more than he can do; and if, as he says, he
could not swim a stroke, why, it was hard to
expect him——"

Colonel Howard shook his head fiercely.

"Yes, indeed, though I could see that he did
all that he could. Went in half up to his
middle."

"You could see," said Colonel Howard,
dreamily. " Why, were you——"

"To be sure. I saw the whole business from
beginning to end. The little urchin coming down
by himself, climbing into the boat. Saw it all
through my good Dolland glass, and I declare I
never suffered so much, for I knew what would
happen, and it seemed only a few yards off.
Capital glass——"

"And Edward?" said Colonel Howard,
hurriedly. "When did he— where was he——"

"The Dolland showed me him too as plain
as my hand, rushing down and calling to the
fine little rascal who was getting into the
boat——"

"Where is—where is he?" said the colonel,
distractedly. "What have I done!"

The doctor was a little astonished, but he did
not know what was passing in his friend's mind,
who hurried past him. Down in the hall was
the unhappy Edward, who stood sorrowfully as
his brother approached him.

"My brother, my dear brother," said the
colonel, " I have wronged you, oh so outrageously,
so cruelly. I have heard all and know
all now, and could humble myself on this very
ground to beg your forgiveness."

The night of that wedding-day thus became
a night almost of bliss, very unusual on such
solemnities. The little man was soon asleep,
and awoke again fresh and restored, and, in
defiance of his faithful henchman's warning,
insisted on getting up and going down to the
drawing-room, then lit up, over which a bright
tranquil cloud was floating. He strode with
his little limbs into the room. "Here I am,
papa;" and then, after standing looking at their
surprise, gave a crow, and ran to hide his face
on his father's knee.

Not many such nights were to follow, and on
that sweet and charming little circle the curtain
came down slowly. That little episode
altogether, of the marriage, was pleasant to think
on, and it came back to many hereafter, when,
the gentle colonel, broken with many shocks
and trials, had at last found repose in a little
quiet corner under a spreading tree.

Now ready, bound in cloth, price 5s. 6d.,
VOLUME THE SEVENTEENTH.