Assistance being called, she was removed to her own chamber, where she remained, apparently lifeless for the space of half an hour.

When she recovered, her husband was pacing the chamber floor with slow, measured steps, and his eyes cast down.
"Andrew! Is he dead ?" were her first words.

She spoke in a low voice, and with forced composure.
Mr.Howland paused, and approached the bed on which lay his pale exhausted wife, just awakened from her death-like unconsciousness.
"No, Esther.

He is not dead," was calmly replied.
"Is he badly hurt"?
The mother held her breath for a reply.
"Yes, badly, I fear," answered Mr.Howland, in the same calm voice.
"Will he live ?" almost gasped the mother.
"God only knows," replied Mr.Howland.Then glancing his eyes upward piously, he added, "If it be His will to remove him, I--" "Oh, Andrew! don't say that!" quickly exclaimed the mother.

"Don't say that!" "Yes, Esther, I will say it," returned Mr.Howland, in a steady voice.