‘God will guard over you,’ said Masham, with streaming eyes; ’God will not desert a pious and virtuous woman.’

‘I must go,’ said Lady Annabel, attempting to rise, but the Doctor gently controlled her; ’perhaps she is awake, and I am not at her side.  She will not ask for me, she will ask for him; but I will be there; she will desert me, but she shall not say I ever deserted her.’

‘She will never desert you,’ said the Doctor; ’my life on her pure heart.  She has been a child of unbroken love and duty; still she will remain so.  Her mind is for a moment overpowered by a marvellous discovery.  She will recover, and be to you as she was before.’

‘We’ll tell her he is dead,’ said Lady Annabel, eagerly.  ’You must tell her.  She will believe you.  I cannot speak to her of him; no, not to secure her heart; never, never, never can I speak to Venetia of her father.’

‘I will speak,’ replied the Doctor, ’at the just time.  Now let us think of her recovery.  She is no longer in danger.  We should be grateful, we should be glad.’

‘Let us pray to God!  Let us humble ourselves,’ said Lady Annabel.  ’Let us beseech him not to desert this house.  We have been faithful to him, we have struggled to be faithful to him.  Let us supplicate him to favour and support us!’

‘He will favour and support you,’ said the Doctor, in a solemn tone.  ‘He has upheld you in many trials; he will uphold you still.’

’Ah! why did I love him!  Why did I continue to love him!  How weak, how foolish, how mad I have been!  I have alone been the cause of all this misery.  Yes, I have destroyed my child.’

’She lives, she will live.  Nay, nay! you must reassure yourself.  Come, let me send for your servant, and for a moment repose.  Nay! take my arm.  All depends upon you.  We have great cares now; let us not conjure up fantastic fears.’

’I must go to my daughter’s room.  Perhaps by her side I might rest.  Nowhere else.  You will attend me to the door, my friend.  Yes! it is something in this life to have a friend.’

Lady Annabel took the arm of the good Masham.  They stopped at her daughter’s door.

‘Rest here a moment,’ she said, as she entered the room without a sound.  In a moment she returned.  ‘She still sleeps,’ said the mother; ‘I shall remain with her, and you—?’

‘I will not leave you,’ said the Doctor, ’but think not of me.  Nay!  I will not leave you.  I will remain under this roof.  I have shared its serenity and joy; let me not avoid it in this time of trouble and tribulation.’

CHAPTER IX.

Venetia still slept:  her mother alone in the chamber watched by her side.  Some hours had elapsed since her interview with Dr. Masham; the medical attendant had departed for a few hours.

Suddenly Venetia moved, opened her eyes, and said in a faint voice, ‘Mamma!’