But the hour came when all discussion was ended as to who was to shelter the dear old grandmother in her declining years.  Mrs. Harcourt was suddenly paralyzed, and in a few days Annette stood doubly orphaned.  Grandmother Harcourt’s children gathered around the bedside of their dying mother.  She was conscious but unable to speak.  Occasionally her eyes would rest lovingly upon Annette and then turn wistfully to her children.  Several times she assayed to speak, but the words died upon her lips.  Her eldest son entered the room just as life was trembling on its faintest chords.  She recognized him, and gathering up her remaining strength she placed his hand on Annette’s, and tried again to speak.  He understood her and said very tenderly,

“Mother, I will look after Annette.”

All the care faded from the dear old face.  Amid the shadows that never deceive flitted a smile of peace and contentment.  The fading eye lit up with a sudden gaze of joy and wonder.  She reached out her hand as if to meet a welcome and precious friend, and then the radiant face grew deathly pale; the outstretched hands relaxed their position, and with a smile, just such a smile as might greet a welcoming angel, her spirit passed out into the eternities, and Annette felt as she had never felt before, that she was all alone.  The love that had surrounded and watched over her, born with her perverseness, and sheltered her in its warm clasp, was gone; it had faded suddenly from her vision, and left in its stead a dull and heavy pain.  After the funeral, Mrs. Harcourt’s children returned to the house where they quietly but earnestly discussed the question what shall be done with Annette.  Mrs. Hanson’s house was rather small; that is, it was rather small for Annette.  She would have found room in her house if she only had room in her heart for her.  She had nursed her mother through her sickness, and said with unnatural coldness, “I have got rid of one trouble and I do not want another.”  Another sister who lived some distance from A.P., would have taken Annette, but she knew that other members of her family would object, as they would be fearful that Annette would be an apple of discord among them.  At length, her uncle Thomas decided that she should go with him.  He felt that his mother had died with the assurance on her mind that he would care for Annette, and he resolved to be faithful in accepting what was to him the imposition of a new burden on his shoulders.  His wife was a cold and unsympathizing woman.  She was comfortably situated but did not wish that comfort invaded by her husband’s relations.  In household matters her husband generally deferred to her judgment, but here was no other alternative than that of taking Annette under the shadow of his home, or leaving her unprotected in the wide world, and he was too merciful and honorable to desert Annette in her saddest hour of need.  Having determined that Annette should share his home, he knew that it was advisable to tell his wife about his decision, and to prepare her for Annette’s coming.