CHAPTER V.
"Through lawless camp, through ocean wild, Her prophet eye pursues her child; Scans mournfully her poet's strain, Fears for her merchant, loss alike and gain." LYRA INNOCENTIUM.
Dr.May took the management of himself into his own hands, and paid so little attention to Mr.Ward's recommendations that his sons and daughters were in continual dread of his choosing to do something that might cause injurious agitation.
However, he did not go further than Margaret's bedroom where he sat hour after hour his eyes fixed upon her, as she continued in a state bordering on insensibility.

He took little notice of anything else, and hardly spoke.

There were heavy sighs now and then, but Richard and Flora, one or other of whom were always watching him, could hardly tell whether to ascribe them to the oppression of sorrow or of suffering.
Their great fear was of his insisting on seeing his wife's face, and it was a great relief that he never alluded to her, except once, to desire Richard to bring him her ring.

Richard silently obeyed, and, without a word, he placed it on his little finger.

Richard used to read the Psalms to him in the morning, before he was up, and Flora would bring little Daisy and lay her by his side.
To the last moment they dreaded his choosing to attend the funeral, and Flora had decided on remaining at home, though trembling at the thought of what there might be to go through.