Noticing that his hand trembled so that he spilled his coffee in raising his cup to his lips, (his custom was to get a glass of liquor before breakfast to steady his nerves,) she came and stood beside him, saying, as she did so--"Let me hold your cup for you." Ellis acquiesced; and so his wife held the cup to his lips while he drank.
"Oh, dear! This is a dreadful state to be in Cara!" The exclamation was spontaneous.

Had Ellis thought a moment, his pride would have caused him to repress it.
Mrs.Ellis did not reply, for she was afraid to trust herself to speak, lest her words or voice should express something that would check the better feelings that were in the heart of her husband.

But, ere she could repress it, a tear fell upon his hand.

Almost with a start, Ellis turned and looked up into her face.

It was calm, yet sorrowful.