"I am very happy--only I want to see my father." She added something incoherently, and Adelaide perceived, with excessive alarm, that her mind was again beginning to wander.
She hastily summoned a servant and despatched a message to the physician, urging him to come immediately, as there was an alarming change in his patient.
Never in all her life had Adelaide suffered such anxiety and distress as during the next half-hour, which she and the faithful Chloe spent by the bedside, watching the restless tossings of the little sufferer, whose fever and delirium seemed to increase every moment.

Jim had not been able to find the doctor, and Mrs.Travilla was staying away longer than she had intended.
But at length she came, and, though evidently grieved and concerned at the change in Elsie, her quiet, collected manner calmed and soothed Adelaide.
"Oh, Mrs.Travilla," she whispered, "do you think she will die ?" "We will not give up hope yet, my dear," replied the old lady, trying to speak cheerfully; "but my greatest comfort, just at present, is the sure knowledge that she is prepared for any event.

No one can doubt that she is a lamb of the Saviour's fold, and if he is about to gather her into his bosom--" She paused, overcome by emotion, then added in a tremulous tone, "It will be a sad thing to _us_, no doubt, but to her--dear little one--a blessed, _blessed_ change." "I cannot bear the thought," sobbed Adelaide, "but I have scarcely any hope now, because--" and then she told Mrs.Travilla what they had been doing in her absence.
"Don't let that discourage you, my dear," replied her friend soothingly.
"I have no faith in presentiments, and while there is life there is hope." Dr.Barton, the physician, came in at that moment, looked at his young patient, felt her pulse, and shook his head sorrowfully.
Adelaide watched his face with the deepest anxiety.
He passed his hand over Elsie's beautiful curls.
"It seems a sad pity," he remarked in a low tone to her aunt, "but they will have to be sacrificed; they must be cut off immediately, and her head shaved." Adelaide shuddered and trembled.

"Is there any hope, doctor ?" she faltered almost under her breath.
"There is _life_ yet, Miss Adelaide," he said, "and we must use all the means within our reach; but I wish her father was here.

Have you heard nothing yet ?" "No, nothing, nothing!" she answered, in a tone of keen distress; then hastily left the room to give the necessary orders for carrying out the doctor's directions.
"No, no, you must not! Papa will not allow it--he will be very angry--he will punish me if you cut off my curls!" and Elsie's little hand was raised in a feeble attempt to push away the remorseless scissors that were severing the bright locks from her head.
"No, darling, he will not be displeased, because it is quite necessary to make you well." said Mrs.Travilla in her gentle, soothing tones; "and your papa would bid us do it, if he were here." "No, no, don't cut it off.