"You don't know what a load you have taken off my mind." But before Mrs.Travilla could reply, Elsie started up in the bed, with a wild outcry: "Oh, don't, papa! don't send me there! They will kill me! they will torture me! Oh, let me stay at home with you, and I will be very good." Mrs.Travilla spoke soothingly to her, and persuaded her to lie down again.
Elsie looked at her quite rationally, and holding out her hand, with a faint smile, said: "Thank you, Mrs.Travilla; you are very kind to come to see me; I am very sick; my head hurts me so;" and she put her hand up to it, while again her eyes rolled wildly, and she shrieked out, "Oh, Aunt Adelaide! save me! save me! don't let them take me away to that dreadful place! Must I go now?
to-day ?" she asked in piteous accents.
"Oh! I don't want to go!" and she clung shuddering to her aunt, who was bending over her, with eyes swimming in tears.
"No, darling, no," she said, "no one shall take you away; nobody shall hurt you." Then in answer to Mrs.Travilla's inquiring look, she explained, speaking in an undertone: "He had decided to place her in a convent, to complete her education.

I told her of it last night," she added mournfully, "as he requested, and I very much fear that the fright and terror she suffered on that account have helped to bring on this attack." "Poor, dear, precious lamb!" sighed Chloe, who stood at the foot of the bed, gazing sadly at her nursling, and wiping away tear after tear, as they chased each other down her sable cheek.

"I wish Massa Horace could see her now.

I'se sure he nebber say such cruel tings no more." "He ought surely to be here! You have sent for him, Adelaide ?" Mrs.
Travilla said inquiringly.

"She is very ill, and it is of great importance that her mind should be set at rest, if indeed it _can_ be done at present." "I wrote this morning," Adelaide said, "and I shall write every day until he comes." Elsie caught the words, and turning with an eager look to her aunt, she again spoke quite rationally, "Are you writing to papa, Aunt Adelaide ?" she asked.