Or shall I get Richard to speak to Dr.Hoxton to let you have another week's leave ?" "No, no, don't be foolish.

It can't be helped." "I am very sorry, but I think you will be better for it." She almost began to fancy herself unfeeling, when she found him so much more depressed than she was herself, and unable to feel it a relief to know that the time of rest and want of occupation was over.

She thought it light-minded, though she could not help it, to look forward to the daily studies where she might lose her sad thoughts and be as if everything were as usual.

But suppose she should be to blame, where would now be the gentle discipline?
Poor Ethel's feelings were not such as to deserve the imputation of levity, when this thought came over her; but her buoyant mind, always seeking for consolation, recurred to Margaret's improvement, and she fixed her hopes on her.
Margaret was more alive to surrounding objects, and, when roused, she knew them all, answered clearly when addressed, had even, more than once, spoken of her own accord, and shown solicitude at the sight of her father's bandaged, helpless arm, but he soon soothed this away.

He was more than ever watchful over her, and could scarcely be persuaded to leave her for one moment, in his anxiety to be at hand to answer, when first she should speak of her mother, a moment apprehended by all the rest, almost as much for his sake as for hers.
So clear had her perceptions been, and so much more awake did she appear, on this evening, that he expected the inquiry to come every moment, and lingered in her room; till she asked the hour, and begged him to go to bed.
As he bent over her, she looked up in his face, and said softly, "Dear papa." There was that in her tone which showed she perceived the truth, and he knelt by her side kissing her, but not daring to relax his restraint of feeling.
"Dear papa," she said again, "I hope I shall soon be better, and be some comfort to you." "My best--my own--my comfort," he murmured, all he could say without giving way.
"Baby--is she well ?" "Yes, thank Heaven, she has not suffered at all." "I heard her this morning, I must see her to-morrow.