We must be most careful and always wear the brightest faces before her, and never let her know that anything is going wrong." "I will do it always," I said, and then, looking up, I saw that my nurse was sad and grave.

"How will it end, Emma ?" I asked.
"Only God knows, miss," she replied.

"One thing, I hope, is this--that my lady will never find it out." Something was telling upon my dear mother every day; she grew thinner and paler; the sweet smile, sweet always, grew fainter; her face flushed at the least sound.

Last year my father would have been devoured by anxiety; now his visits were short and cold.

If I said one word my mother would interrupt me.