was almost awful.

"They all helped to dig it; and they know they did."

Words that appeared to be so far from the tragical recollection which
must have first caused this disturbance in her poor mind; but her
grand-daughter thought proper to make her some kind of answer.

"Did they, grandmother?" she said in a soothing tone, "and a very good
thing too."

She stopped short, for upon the aged face fell suddenly such a look of
affright, such renewed intelligence seemed to peer out of the dim eyes,
and such defiance with their scrutiny, that for the moment she was very
much alarmed.

"She's not quite herself. Oh, I hope she's not going to have a stroke!"
was her thought.

"What have I been a saying?" inquired Madam Melcombe.

"You said it was a good thing they dug the lily bed," answered her
grand-daughter.

"And nothing else?"

"No, ma'am, no," answered the nurse; "and if you had, what would it
signify?"

Madam Melcombe let them settle her in her chair and give her her