I will see you again." The physician turned to Sidney, who played with his watch-chain, and smiled up in his face.
"And that child, sir ?" said the mother, wistfully, forgetting the dread fiat pronounced against herself,--"he is so delicate!" "Not at all, ma'am,--a very fine little fellow;" and the doctor patted the boy's head, and abruptly vanished.
"Ah! mamma, I wish you would ride--I wish you would take the white pony!" "Poor boy! poor boy!" muttered the mother; "I must not be selfish." She covered her face with her hands, and began to think! Could she, thus doomed, resolve on declining her brother's offer?
Did it not, at least, secure bread and shelter to her child?
When she was dead, might not a tie, between the uncle and nephew, be snapped asunder?
Would he be as kind to the boy as now when she could commend him with her own lips to his care--when she could place that precious charge into his hands?
With these thoughts, she formed one of those resolutions which have all the strength of self-sacrificing love.

She would put the boy from her, her last solace and comfort; she would die alone,--alone!.