82 MRS. LOCKYER'S TROUBLES. we will leave him for a time, to pursue his wonted studies, to fit him for his future profession. "How the merry, merry bells are ringing !" said the joyous Laura, as she entered the breakfast-room. "They seem to combine to cheer us, after dear Alfred's absence from our table." "Oh, the vacant chair-the lively sallies! My heart sickens within me, Laura," said Mrs. Lockyer. "The merry, merry peals may bring joy to some; but to me, no, no joy!-my son wanting, and my daughter's health causing me serious apprehensions for the future. I have long marked the gradual failing of her strength, and the lassitude and exhaustion consequent on those exertions which she used to make without any symptoms of fatigue; the attenuation of her once plump and rounded figure; the slight but frequent cough; the suspicious spot upon the cheek, and increased brilliancy of the eye: these, and other evidences of minor import, make me fear, my dearest Laura, that your sister is, at no distant period, doomed to fall a prey to that insidious disease which, in the flower of his manhood, deprived me of the most affectionate of husbands, and my children of the best of fathers. And my Laura, too, so soon to be taken from me, and her best affections lavished on another!" "Oh, mamma! say not so! Your Laura's affections may be divided, and yet not lessened in intensity. Believe me, if I thought this possible, I would at once-aye, and for ever-refuse to quit ANGELIQUE'S WEDDING-DAY. 83 you! Let us hope for the best. My dear sister's health may yet be restored; but should an all-wise Providence think fit to remove her to a happier sphere for which I have often felt her to be more fitted, by her many virtues, than for this cold and formal world then let your Laura-by love and devotion unshared by another, if such be your wish (and you will find me prepared for the sacrifice, cost what it may)—prove the intensity of her feelings for a mother whose whole life has been employed in the promotion of her children's happiness, to repay a portion of which would, indeed, be a labour of love. Restrain, then, my dearest mother, these bitter tears; or, if they fall, let them be sweetened by your child! And," added Laura, "this is Sunday-WhitSunday. 'Tis Angelique's fair-day-ah! and more than that, her wedding-day! And I have given her permission to hold her wedding-dinner at our cottage, and in the Hall. Ten years yesterday, and Angelique came to us, a pretty French girl, of innocent and lively feelings. I have formed a good opinion of her country from her deferential manners. She has been a faithful creature-passive and enduring-and will, I am sure, give up her Roman Catholic opinions, and her good sense has taught her the evils of idolatry-save and except in a husband." "'Tis well, my Laura, you are so indulgent," said Mrs. Lockyer; "for whilst I esteem Angelique for her uninterrupted devotion to you as children, I disapprove of her choice in Joe, who is far too old for her; but of this be assured, I will never neglect an old and faithful servant." "I have lost my companion," said Laura to Aunt Dorothy. "No one to walk and talk with me." "Well, well," said the good old lady, "and if it come to that, no one to help me over stiles, and to talk to me about mines, and shares, and homœopathy, and politics, to crown all. But, my dear child, whilst health be our portion, shall we breathe a word—nay, give a look—of discontent? and the more so, when we see dear Ellen so great a sufferer? Dr. Somers requested to see me to-day," said Aunt Dorothy; "and though he told me my mining speculations were visionary, I felt not that news, when compared with the truthful intelligence that Ellen would never recover her wonted health; nay more, that a few months must number her with her dear father, as a saint in glory!" AN UNWELCOME CALL. 85 CHAPTER XVIII. "Let us be patient, these severe afflictions But oftentimes celestial benedictions "We will be patient, and assuage the feeling By silence sanctifying, not concealing, The grief that must have way." "HERE is a letter from the mine, Aunt Dorothy," said Laura, on opening the letter-bag, a day or two after Alfred's departure. "A call! a call! I fear," added the old lady. "Ten shillings per share, so I have one hundred pounds to pay for my share of folly-there, I will not murmur if the silver become dross. I speculated to please my nephew, so give me my desk, dear Laura, and I will send a cheque. The dear boy cannot have his cake and eat it, and so I shall write and tell him.” "How very disconsolate poor Mr. Devereux appears, mamma," said Laura. "He does, indeed; I have just parted from him." 86 COMPOSURE IN PROSPECT OF DEATH. He has been here reading to Ellen, by her express wish, and assures me that her mind is sweetly composed. He tells me that for some time he has seen the dear girl gradually grow weaker, whilst we who have been with her daily, were scarcely sensible of the change." Well, well!" said Aunt Dorothy, "whatever may be the will of Heaven, Ellen's mind is prepared for any change, for she often talks to me of the real felicity of another state; and that this life is only a probation to a better. Her death-bed, come when it may, will be a fine field for Christian comment, and a bright example for those who follow." "I sat up with the poor sufferer several hours last night," said Mrs. Lockyer, addressing Aunt Dorothy, "she assured me her hopes were in heaven, and that she felt she had little to do with earth. How delightful it is to witness her sweet composure of mind under all her trials; she has indeed made her light to shine; and if it be the will of Him who overrules all for good to His finite creatures, that she is to be removed from us, may I meet the trial with submission, and tread in the footsteps of my child, who, since her father's death, has soothed my days, and removed every briar, which she in her affection fancied might obstruct my path." "I am daily looking anxiously for the post," said Laura, “to hear if Alfred arrived in safety, and how his provisions fared.” "I forgot to name, my dear," said Mrs. Lockyer, |