And then he and the motherly old lady took their stations at the bedside once more, watching in perfect silence, and administering every few moments a little stimulant, for she was weak as a new-born infant, and only in this way could they keep the flickering flame of life from dying out again.

It was not until more than an hour had passed in this way, and hope began to grow stronger in their breasts, until it became almost certainty that Elsie would live, that they thought of her father and aunt, so entirely had their attention been engrossed by the critical condition of their little patient.

It was many minutes after Adelaide left him ere Mr. Dinsmore could think of anything but the terrible, crushing blow which had fallen upon him, and his agonized feelings found vent in groans of bitter anguish, fit to melt a heart of stone; but at length he grew somewhat calmer; and as his eye fell upon the little packet he remembered that it was her dying gift to him, and with a deep sigh he took it up and opened it.

It contained his wife’s miniature—­the same that Elsie had always worn suspended from her neck—­one of the child’s glossy ringlets, severed from her head by her own little hands the day before she was taken ill—­and a letter, directed in her handwriting to himself.

He pressed the lock of hair to his lips, then laid it gently down, and opened the letter.

“Dear, dear papa,” it began, “my heart is very sad to-night!  There is such a weary, aching pain there, that will never be gone till I can lay my head against your breast, and feel your arms folding me tight, and your kisses on my cheek.  Ah! papa, how often I wish you could just look down into my heart and see how full of love to you it is!  I am always thinking of you, and longing to be with you.  You bade me go and see the home you have prepared, and I have obeyed you.  You say, if I will only be submissive we will live there, and be so very happy together, and I cannot tell you how my heart longs for such a life with you in that lovely, lovely home; nor how happy I could be there, or anywhere with you, if you would only let me make God’s law the rule of my life; but, my own dear father, if I have found your frown so dreadful, so hard to bear, how much more terrible would my Heavenly Father’s be!  Oh, papa, that would make me wretched indeed!  But oh, I cannot bear to think of being sent away from you amongst strangers!  Dear, dear papa, will you not spare your little daughter this trial?  I will try to be so very good and obedient in everything that my conscience will allow.  I am so sad, papa, so very sad, as if something terrible was coming, and my head feels strangely.  I fear I am going to be ill, perhaps to die!  Oh, papa, will I never see you again?  I want to ask you to forgive me for all the naughty thoughts and feelings I have ever had towards you.  I think I have never disobeyed