She was to be a hopeless, helpless cripple.

She might lie on the sofa, be wheeled in a chair, perhaps even driven in a carriage, but nothing more--she would never walk again.
My father's heart almost broke.

I can see him now crying and sobbing like a child.

He would not believe it.

He turned from one to the other, crying out: "It cannot be true! I will not believe it! She is so young and so beautiful--it cannot be true!" "It is most unfortunately true," said the head physician, sorrowfully.
"The poor lady will dance and walk no more." "Who is to tell her ?" cried my father.