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Hardie；　and　said；　〃Papa！　dear　papa！〃

There　was　great　joy：　silent　on　the　part　of　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Julia；　but　Mr。　Hardie；　who　saw　in　this　a　good　omen；　Heaven　recognising　his　penitence；　burst　out：　〃She　knows　me；　she　speaks；　she　will　live。　How　good　God　is！　Yes；　my　darling　child；　it　is　your　own　father。　You　will　be　brave　and　get　well；　for　my　sake。〃

Jane　did　not　seem　to　pay　much　heed　to　these　words：　she　looked　straight　before　her　like　one　occupied　with　her　own　thought；　and　said　distinctly　and　solemnly；　〃Papasend　for　Alfred。〃


It　fell　on　all　three　like　a　clap　of　thunder；　those　gentle　but　decided　tones；　those　simple　natural　words。

Julia's　eyes　flashed　into　her　mother's；　and　then　sought　the　ground　directly。

There　was　a　dead　silence。


Mr。　Hardie　was　the　one　to　speak　〃Why　for　him；　dear？　Those　who　love　you　best　are　all　here。〃

〃For　Heaven's　sake；　don't　thwart　her；　sir；〃　said　the　doctor；　in　alarm。　〃This　is　no　time　to　refuse　her　anything　in　your　power。　Sometimes　the　very　expectation　of　a　beloved　person　coming　keeps　them　alive；　stimulates　the　powers。〃

Mr。　Hardie　was　sore　perplexed。　He　recoiled　from　the　sudden　exposure　that　might　take　place；　if　Alfred　without　any　preparation　or　previous　conciliatory　measures　were　allowed　to　burst　in　upon　them。　And　while　his　mind　was　whirling　within　him　in　doubt　and　perplexity；　Jane　spoke　again；　but　no　longer　calmly　and　connectedly；　she　was　beginning　to　wander。　Presently　in　her　wandering　she　spoke　of　Edward；　called　him　dear　Edward。　Mrs。　Dodd　rose　hastily；　and　her　first　impulse　was　to　ask　both　gentlemen　to　retire：　so　instinctively　does　a　good　woman　protect　her　own　sex　against　the　other。　But；　reflecting　that　this　was　the　father；　she　made　an　excuse　and　retired　herself　instead；　followed　by　Julia。　The　doctor　divined；　and　went　to　the　window。　The　father　sat　by　the　bed；　and　soon　gathered　his　daughter　loved　Edward　Dodd。

The　time　was　gone　by　when　this　would　have　greatly　pained　him。

He　sighed　like　one　overmatched　by　fate；　but　said；　〃You　shall　have　him；　my　darling；　he　is　a　good　young　man；　he　shall　be　your　husband；　you　shall　be　happy。　Only　live　for　my　sake；　for　all　our　sakes。〃　She　paid　no　attention　and　wandered　on　a　little；　but　her　mind　gradually　cleared；　and　by…and…bye　she　asked　quietly　for　a　glass　of　water。　Mr。　Hardie　gave　it　her。　She　sipped；　and　he　took　it　from　her。　She　looked　at　him　close；　and　said　distinctly；　〃Have　you　sent　for　Alfred？〃

〃No；　love；　not　yet。〃

〃Not　yet？　There　is　no　time　to　lose；〃　she　said　gravely。

Mr。　Hardie　trembled。　Then；　being　alone　with　her；　the　miserable　man　unable　to　say　no；　unwilling　to　say　yes；　tried　to　persuade　her　not　to　ask　for　Alfred。　〃My　dear；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　will　not　refuse　you：　but　I　have　a　secret　to　confide　to　you。　Will　you　keep　it？〃

〃Yes；　papa；　faithfully。〃

〃Poor　Alfred　is　not　himself。　He　has　delusions：　he　is　partly　insane。　My　brother　Thomas　has　thought　it　best　for　us　all　to　put　him　under　gentle　restraint　for　a　time。　It　would　retard　his　cure　to　have　him　down　here　and　subject　him　to　excitement。〃

〃Papa；〃　said　Jane；　〃are　you　deceiving　me；　or　are　you　imposed　upon？　Alfred　insane！　It　is　a　falsehood。　He　came　to　me　the　night　before　the　wedding　that　was　to　be。　Oh；　my　brother；　my　darling　brother；　how　dare　they　say　you　are　insane！　That　letter　you　showed　me　then　was　a　falsehood？　Oh；　papa！〃

〃I　feared　to　frighten　you；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　and　hung　his　head。

〃I　see　it　all；〃　she　cried　〃those　wicked　men　with　their　dark　words　have　imposed　on　you。　Bring　him　to　me　that　I　may　reconcile　you　all；　and　end　all　this　misery　ere　I　go　hence　and　be　no　more　seen。〃

〃Oh；　my　child；　don't　talk　so；〃　cried　Mr。　Hardie；　trembling。　〃Think　of　your　poor　father。〃

〃I　do；〃　she　cried；　〃I　do。　Oh；　papa；　I　lie　here　between　two　worlds；　and　see　them　both　so　clear。　Trust　to　me：　and；　if　you　love　me〃

〃If　I　love　you；　Jane？　Better　than　all　the　world　twice　told。〃

〃Then　don't　refuse　me　this　one　favour：　the　last；　perhaps；　I　shall　ever　ask　you。　I　want　my　brother　here　before　it　is　too　late。　Tell　him　he　must　come　to　his　little　sister；　who　loves　him　dearly；　andis　dying。

〃Oh　no！　no！　no！〃　cried　the　agonised　father；　casting　everything　to　the　winds。　〃I　will。　He　shall　be　here　in　twelve　hours。　Only　promise　me　to　bear　up。　Have　a　strong　will；　have　courage。　You　shall　have　Alfred；　you　shall　have　anything　you　like　on　earth；　anything　that　money　can　get　you。　What　am　I　saying？　I　have　no　money；　it　is　all　gone。　But　I　have　a　father's　heart。　Madam；　Mrs。　Dodd！〃　She　came　directly。

〃Can　you　give　me　paper？　No；　I　won't　trust　to　a　letter。　I'll　send　off　a　special　messenger　this　moment。　It　is　for　my　son；　madam。　He　will　be　here　to…morrow　morning。　God　knows　how　it　will　all　end。　But　how　can　I　refuse　my　dying　child？　Oh；　madam；　you　are　good；　kind；　forgiving；　keep　my　poor　girl　alive　for　me：　keep　telling　her　Alfred　is　coming；　she　cares　more　for　him　than　for　her　poor　heart…broken　father。〃

And　the　miserable　man　rushed　out；　leaving　Mrs。　Dodd　in　tears　for　him。

He　was　no　sooner　gone　than　Julia　came　in；　and　clasped　her　mother；　and　trembled　on　her　bosom。　Then　Mrs。　Dodd　knew　she　had　overheard　Mr。　Hardie's　last　words。

Jane　Hardie；　too；　though　much　exhausted　by　the　scene　with　her　father；　put　out　her　hand　to　Julia；　and　took　hers；　and　said　feebly；　but　with　a　sweet　smile；　〃He　is　coming；　love；　all　shall　be　well。〃　Then　to　herself　as　it　were；　and　looking　up　with　a　gentle　rapture　in　her　pale　face

〃Blessed　are　the　peacemakers；　for　they　shall　be　called　the　children　of　God。〃

On　this　thought　she　seemed　to　feed　with　innocent　joy；　but　for　a　long　time　was　too　weak　to　speak　again。

Mr。　Hardie；　rushing　from　the　house；　found　Edward　at　work　outside；　he　was　crying　undisguisedly；　and　with　his　coat　off；　working　harder　at　spreading　the　straw　than　both　the　two　men　together　he　had　got　to　help　him。　Mr。　Hardie　took　his　hand　and　wrung　it；　but　could　not　speak。

In　half　an　hour　a　trusty　agent　he　had　often　employed　was　at　the　station　waiting　for　the　up　train；　nearly　due。

He　came　back　to　Albion　Villa。　Julia　met　him　on　the　stairs　with　her　fingers　to　her　lips。　〃She　is　sleeping；　the　doctor　has　hopes。　Oh；　sir；　let　us　all　pray　for　her　day　and　night。〃

Mr。　Hardie　blessed　her；　it　seemed　the　face　of　an　angel；　so　earnest；　so　lovely；　so　pious。　He　went　home：　and　at　the　door　of　his　own　house　Peggy　met　him　with　anxious　looks。　He　told　her　what　he　had　done。

〃Good　Heavens！〃　said　she；　〃have　you　forgotten？　He　says　he　will　kill　you　the　first　day　he　gets　out。　You　told　me　so　yourself。〃

〃Yes；　Baker　said　so。　I　can't　help　it。　I　don't　care　what　becomes　of　me；　I　care　only　for　my　child。　Leave　me；　Peggy；　there；　go；　go。〃

He　was　no　sooner　alone　than　he　fell　upon　his　knees；　and　offered　the　Great　Author　of　life　and　deatha　bargain。　〃O　God；〃　he　cried；　〃I　own　my　sins；　and　I　repent　them。　Spare　but　my　child；　who　never　sinned　against　Thee；　and　I　will　undo　all　I　have　done　amiss　in　Thy　sight。　I　will　refund　that　money　on　which　Thy　curse　lies。　I　will　throw　myself　on　their　mercy。　I　will　set　my　son　free。　I　will　live　on　a　pittance。　I　will　part　with　Peggy。　I　will　serve　Mammon　no　more。　I　will　attend　Thine　ordinances。　I　will　live　soberly；　honestly；　and　godly　all　the　remainder　of　my　days；　only　do　Thou　spare　my　child。　She　is　Thy　servant；　and　does　Thy　work　on　earth；　and　there　is　nothing　on　earth　I　love　but　her。〃


And　now　the　whistle　sounded；　the　train　moved；　and　his　messenger　was　flying　fast　to　London；　with　a　note　to　Dr。　Wycherley：

〃DEAR　SIR；My　poor　daughter　lies　dangerously　wounded；　and　perhaps　at　the　point　of　death。　She　cries　for　her　brother。　He　must　come　down　to　us　instantly　with　the　bearer　of　this。　Send　one　of　your　people　with　him　if　you　like。　But　it　is　not　necessary。　I　enclose　a　blank　cheque；　signed；　which　please　fill　at　your　discretion。I　am；　with　thanks；　yours　in　deep　distress；

〃RICHARD　HARDIE〃



CHAPTER　XXXIX

DR。　SHORT　arrived；　approved　Dr。　Phillips's　treatment；　and　said　the　case　was　severe　but　not　hopeless；　and　he　would　call　again。　A　bed　was　prepared　in　the　house　for　Mr。　Hardie：　but　neither　he　nor　any　of　the　Dodds　closed　an　eye　that　sorrowful　night。

About　midnight；　after　a　short　slumber；　the　sufferer　became　uneasy；　and　begged　to　be　left　with　Julia。　Julia　was　sent　for；　and　found　her　a　good　deal　excited。　She　inquired　more　than　once　if　they　were　quite　alone；　and　then　asked　for　paper　and　a　pencil。　She　wrote　a　few　lines；　and　made　Julia　put　them　in　a　cover　and　seal　them。　〃Now。　dear　friend；〃　she　said；　〃promise　me　not　to　open　this；　nor　even　to　let　your　mother；　it　is　not　for　your　happiness　that　what　I　have　written　should　be　seen　by　her　or　you；　no；　no；　much　better　not。　Come；　dear　friend；　pledge　me　your　honour。〃　Julia　pledged　her　honour。

Then　Jane　wrote　on　the　cover；　〃From　a　dying　sister。〃　Julia　saw　that；　and　wept　sore。

Jane　comforted　her。　〃Do　not　weep　for　me；　love：　I　am　content　to　go；　or　stay。　This　is　not　my　doing；　so　I　know　it　must　be　for　the　best。　He　is　leading　me　by　a　way　that　I　know　not。　Oh；　my　beloved　friend；　how　sweet　it　is　to　lie　in　His　hands；　and　know　no　will　but　His。　Ay；　I　thank　Him　for　crossing　my　will；　and　leading　me　to　Himself　by　His　own　good　way；　and　not　by　poor　blind；　foolish　mine。〃

In　this　spirit　of　full　resignation　she　abode　constant；　and　consoled　her　weeping　friends　from　time　to　time；　whenever　she　was　quite　herself。

About　daybreak；　being　alone　with　her　father；　she　shed　a　few　tears　at　his　lonely　condition。　〃I　fear　you　will　miss　me；〃　said　she。　〃Take　my　advice；　dear；　be　reconciled　with　Alfred　at　once；　and　let　Julia　be　your　daughter；　since　I　am　leaving　you。　She　is　all　humility　and　heart。　Dying；　I　prize　her　and　her　affection　more　highly；　I　seem　to　see　characters　clearer；　all　things　clearer；　than　I　did　before　my　summons　came。〃

The　miserable　father　tried　to　be　playful　and　scold　her：　〃You　must　not　talk　nor　think　of　death；〃　he　said。　〃Your　bridal…day　is　to　come　first；　I　know　all；　Edward　Dodd　has　told　me　he　loves　you。　He　is　a　fine　noble　fellow；　you　shall　marry　him：　I　wish　it。　Now；　for　his　sake；　summon　all　your　resolution；　and　make　up　your　mind　to　live。　Why；　at　your　age；　it　needs　but　to　say；　'I　will　live；　I　will；　I　will；'　and　when　all　the　prospect　is　so　smiling；　when　love　awaits　you　at　the　altar；　and　on　every　side！　If　you　could　leave　your　poor　doting　father；　do　not　leave　your　lover：　and　here　he　is　with　his　mother　crying　for　you。　Let　me　comfort　him；　l