Do not refuse me, little Birdie! Show this to your father--he must consent to a request made by one on the brink of the grave." "There, that will do; let me read it over," said he, extending his hand for the note.

"Yes, I will sign it now--then do you add our address.

Send it now, Emily--send it in time for to-night's mail." "Clary, do you think she will come ?" inquired his sister.
"Yes," replied he, confidently; "I am sure she will if the note reaches her." Emily said no more, but sealed and directed the note, which she immediately despatched to the post-office; and on the following day it reached little Birdie.
From the time when the secret of Clarence's birth had been discovered, until the day she had received his note, she never mentioned his name.

At the demand of her father she produced his letters, miniature, and even the little presents he had given her from time to time, and laid them down before him without a murmur; after this, even when he cursed and denounced him, she only left the room, never uttering a word in his defence.

She moved about like one who had received a stunning blow--she was dull, cold, apathetic.