suddenly, the child grew ill, and the pain of separation was augmented as
day by day the mother watched over her alone.

It was her first experience of the illness of childhood, and it required
all her strength and all her calmness to be patient, while sitting hour
after hour with the moaning infant cradled in her arms, unable to
understand or relieve its sufferings, and tortured by the dull look of
apathy which alone answered to her fond or despairing exclamations. She had
forgotten that the birthday of the infant was so near--that first
birthday--and the anniversary which they had twice welcomed so joyfully. At
last the crisis came; the long night closed in drearily, and the physician
told her that, ere morning, there would be hope or despair. Those who have
thus watched can alone understand the agony of that midnight vigil; how
every breath was counted, and every flush marked with wild anxiety. And
Catherine sat there, forgetting that food or rest was necessary to her,
conscious only of the suffering of her child, and picturing darkly to
herself the loneliness of the future, should it be taken from her. How
could she survive the interval that would elapse before her husband's
return? and how dreary would be the meeting which she had hitherto
anticipated with so much pleasure!

She was not to be so sorely tried. The hard feverish pulse gave place to a
gentler beating; the fever flush passed away; and the regular heaving of a
quiet sleep gave token at length that all danger to the child was over.

Then, for the first time, Catherine was persuaded to seek rest for herself,
and all her anxiety was forgotten in a deep and trance-like slumber.

When she awoke there were letters and packages lying beside her bed,
directed by her husband; and after she had once more assured herself that