Mary was hushed in a moment, and Flora's exhausted weeping was gradually soothed, when she was able to recollect that she was keeping him from her father; with kind good-nights, he left Ethel to read to her till she could sleep.

Long did Ethel read, after both her sisters were slumbering soundly; she went on in a sort of dreamy grief, almost devoid of pain, as if all this was too terrible to be true: and she had imagined herself into a story, which would give place at dawn to her ordinary life.
At last she went to bed, and slept till wakened by the return of Flora, who had crept down in her dressing-gown to see how matters were going.
Margaret was in the same state, papa was asleep, after a restless distressing night, with much pain and some fever; and whenever Richard had begun to hope from his tranquillity, that he was falling asleep, he was undeceived by hearing an almost unconsciously uttered sigh of "Maggie, my Maggie!" and then the head turned wearily on the pillow, as if worn out with the misery from which there was no escape.

Towards morning the pain had lessened, and, as he slept, he seemed much less feverish than they could have ventured to expect.
Norman looked wan and wretched, and could taste no breakfast; indeed Harry reported that he had been starting and talking in his sleep half the night, and had proceeded to groaning and crying out till, when it could be borne no longer, Harry waked him, and finished his night's rest in peace.
The children were kept in the drawing-room that morning, and there were strange steps in the house; but only Richard and Mr.Ernescliffe knew the reason.

Happily there had been witnesses enough of the overturn to spare any reference to Dr.May--the violent start of the horses had been seen, and Adams and Mr.Ernescliffe agreed, under their breath, that the new black one was not fit to drive, while the whole town was so used to Dr.May's headlong driving, that every one was recollecting their own predictions of accidents.

There needed little to account for the disaster--the only wonder was that it had not happened sooner.
"I say," announced Harry, soon after they were released again, "I've been in to papa.