You have seen," and his voice was nearly inaudible, "what my carelessness has come to--let that suffice at least, as a lesson that may spare you--what your father must feel as long as he lives." He pressed his hand tightly on her shoulder, and left her, without letting her see his face.

Shocked and bewildered, she hurried upstairs to Margaret.

She threw herself on her knees, felt her arms round her, and heard her kind soothing, and then, in broken words, told how dreadful it had been, and how kind papa had been, and what he had said, which was now the uppermost thought.

"Oh, Margaret, Margaret, how very terrible it is! And does papa really think so ?" "I believe he does," whispered Margaret.
"How can he, can he bear it!" said Ethel, clasping her hands.

"Oh! it is enough to kill one--I can't think why it did not!" "He bears it," said Margaret, "because he is so very good, that help and comfort do come to him.