near. I wish my husband to be present when I die, but not before."

"Hush, my child--never talk of dying yet. Please God, you have many
years of life before you."

She shook her golden head a little sadly.

"No, doctor, my sand has run out, and perhaps it as as well. Give me
the child--why do you keep the child away from me? It is the messenger
sent to call me to a happier world. Yes, she is an angel messenger.
When I am gone, see that you call her 'Angela,' so that I may know by
what name to greet her when the time comes."

During the course of the morning, she expressed a strong desire to see
Maria Lee, who was accordingly sent for.

It will be remembered that old Mr. Caresfoot had on the previous day,
immediately after Hilda had left him, sat down and written to Maria
Lee. In this note he told her the whole shameful truth, ending it with
a few words of bitter humiliation and self-reproach that such a thing
should have befallen her at the hands of one bearing his name. Over
the agony of shame and grief thus let loose upon this unfortunate girl
we will draw a veil. It is fortunate for the endurance of human reason
that life does not hold many such hours as that through which she
passed after the receipt of this letter. As was but natural,
notwithstanding old Mr. Caresfoot's brief vindication of Hilda's
conduct in his letter, Maria was filled with indignation at what to
herself she called her treachery and deceit.

While she was yet full of these thoughts, a messenger came galloping