be grateful to Him who seeth the fallen in his tribulation, but prepareth a place for him in a better world.  Let us pray and hope,” he continued:  and they knelt at the side of the humble cot on which lay the departed, while he devoutly and fervently invoked the Giver of all Good to forgive the oppressor, to guide the oppressed, to make man feel there is a world beyond this, to strengthen the resolution of that fair one who is thus sorely afflicted, to give the old man who weeps at the feet of the departed new hope for the world to come,—­and to receive that warm spirit which has just left the cold body into his realms of bliss.

What of roughness there was in his manner is softened by simplicity and truthfulness.  The roughest lips may breathe the purest prayer.  At the conclusion, Franconia and Daddy leave for Mrs. Rosebrook’s villa, while Harry, remaining to watch over the remains, draws his chair to the stand, and reads by the murky light.

“I won’t be long; take care of old mas’r,” says Daddy, as he leaves the cell, solicitously looking back into the cavern-like place.

It is past ten when they reach the house of Mrs. Rosebrook, the inmates of which have retired, and are sleeping.  Everything is quiet in and about the enclosure; the luxuriant foliage bespreading a lawn extending far away to the westward, seems refreshing itself with dew that sparkles beneath the starlight heavens, now arched like a crystal mist hung with diamond lights.  The distant watchdog’s bark re-echoes faintly over the broad lagoon, to the east; a cricket’s chirrup sounds beneath the woodbine arbour; a moody guardsman, mounted on his lean steed, and armed for danger, paces his slow way along:  he it is that breaks the stillness while guarding the fears of a watchful community, who know liberty, but crush with steel the love thereof.

A rap soon brings to the door the trim figure of a mulatto servant.  He conveys the name of the visitor to his “missus,” who, surprised at the untimely hour Franconia seeks her, loses no time in reaching the ante-room, into which she has been conducted.

Daddy has taken his seat in the hall, and recognises “missus” as she approaches; but as she puts out her hand to salute him, she recognises trouble seated on his countenance.  “Young missus in da’h,” he says, pointing to the ante-room while rubbing his eyes.

“But you must tell me what trouble has befallen you,” she returns, as quickly, in her dishabille, she drops his hand and starts back.

“Missus know ’um all,—­missus da’h.”  Again he points, and she hastens into the ante-room, when, grasping Franconia by the hand, she stares at her with breathless anxiety expressed in her face.  A pause ensues in which both seem bewildered.  At length Franconia breaks the silence.  “Uncle is gone!” she exclaims, following the words with a flow of tears.

“Gone!” reiterates the generous-hearted woman, encircling Franconia’s neck with her left arm, and drawing her fondly to her bosom.