William, the manly, intelligent, promising boy, upon whom the father had ever looked with love and pride so evenly balanced, that the preponderance of neither became apparent, was taken with the same fatal disease and survived his sister only two weeks.
The death of Flora bowed Mr.Bancroft to the ground: that of William completely prostrated him.

He remembered, too distinctly, how often and how recently he had murmured at the good gift of children sent him by God, and now he trembled lest all were to be taken from him, as one unworthy of the high benefactions with which he had been blessed.

How few seemed now the number of his little ones.

There were but five left.

The house seemed desolate; he missed Flora every where, and listened, in vain, for her light step and voice of music.
William was never out of his thoughts.
For weeks and months his heart was full of fear.