"Don't keep me in suspense, Arthur; let me know the worst, at once," he said, with almost a groan.

"Why has anything been hidden from me--the father who loves her better than his life ?" "I have been as ignorant as yourself, uncle, till within the last half hour," replied the doctor, in a patient, deeply sympathizing tone.

"It is astonishing to me that she has been able to endure so much for weeks or months past without a word of complaint.

But do not despair, my dear uncle; the case is by no means hopeless." "Tell me all, Arthur; hide nothing, nothing from me," Mr.Dinsmore said with mingled sternness and entreaty, hastily leading the way as he spoke to the little reception room opening from the other side of the hall, and closing the door against any chance intruder.
Arthur complied, stating the case as briefly as possible, and laying strong emphasis upon the fact that there was reason to hope for, not spared life alone, but entire and permanent relief.
"God grant it!" was the old gentleman's fervent, half agonized response.
"My darling, my darling! would that I could bear all the suffering for you! Arthur, when--when must my child go through the trial which you say is--not to be escaped ?" "We have agreed upon the day after to-morrow, uncle, both she and I wishing to have it over as soon as possible." A few minutes later, Mr.Dinsmore passed quietly into his daughter's boudoir, where he found her alone, lying on a lounge, her eyes closed, her countenance, though deathly pale, perfectly calm and peaceful.
He bent down and touched his lips to the white forehead; then as the sweet eyes opened and looked up lovingly into his, "Oh, my darling, idol of my heart," he groaned, "would that your father could himself take the suffering that I have just learned is in store for you." "Ah no, no, my dear, dear father, I could illy bear that," she said, putting an arm about his neck; "suffering and danger to you would be far harder for me than what I am now enduring or expecting in the near future.

Arthur has told you all ?" "Yes; kind-hearted and generous fellow that he is, he felt that he must spare you the pain of telling it yourself." "Yes, it was very, very kind," she said, "Dear papa, sit down in this easy chair, close by my side, and take my hand in yours while we talk together of some matters that need to be settled before--before I am called to go through that which may be the end of earthly life for me." Then, in response to the anguished look in his face as he bent over her with another silent caress, "My dear father, I do not mean to distress you.