“Thank you for the generous offer,” returned Eric, gratefully; “but there will be no need to trespass upon your kindness in that way.  Laura has some money of her own, and her proportion of mine will make her very comfortable; while the remainder will be sufficient to clothe and educate Evelyn, and give her a moderate income afterward for the rest of her life, if it is not lost in any way; and that she will not be robbed of it in her minority I feel certain, having been so fortunate as to secure you for my executor,” he added, with an affectionate glance and smile.

“I shall certainly do the best I can to take care of it for her,” Lester said, his voice a little unsteady with the thought that these were his brother’s dying wishes to which he was listening; “but I am not a business man, and—­”

“I am quite willing to trust to your good sense, honesty, and love for your niece,” interrupted Eric, hearing the approaching footsteps of Elsie and his daughter.

Evelyn’s wish that she might sometimes have her father to herself was gratified.  Lester and Elsie were thoroughly considerate, and almost every day went out together for an hour or more, leaving the little girl to perform the duties of nurse.

Then there was an interchange of confidences and endearments such as was not indulged in the presence of any third person, and Eric improved the occasion to give his darling much tender and wise fatherly counsel which he thought might be of use to her in the coming years when he would no longer be at her side.

He did not tell her of the trial that was drawing so near—­the parting that would rend her heart—­but she more than half suspected it, as she saw him day by day grow weaker, paler, and thinner.

But the very idea was so terrible that she put it resolutely from her, and thought and talked hopefully of the time when he would be well again.

And he could not bear to crush the hope that made her so bright and happy; but he spoke often to her of the blessedness of those who sleep in Jesus, and made her read to him the passage of Scripture which tells of the glories and bliss of heaven—­of the inheritance of the saints in light—­the things which “eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither the heart of man conceived”—­the things that God hath prepared for them that love him, for them “who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

CHAPTER IV.

“Never morning wore
To evening, but some heart did break.”

Tennyson.

Laura lingered at Newport for several weeks after the arrival of Lester and Elsie at Crag Cottage; so that the brothers had abundance of time and opportunity for private talks and business arrangements, and Evelyn to practise the role of hostess.

When at last she did reach home, she was greatly shocked at the change in her husband; and she heaped reproaches upon poor Evelyn for not giving her more faithful reports of his condition.