she saw him.

Then he altered his opinion again. Rosa had sent her father out to him.
But how was this? The old man did not seem angry. Christopher's heart
gave a leap inside him, and he began to glow with the wildest hopes.
For, what could this mean but relenting?

Mr. Lusignan took him first into the study, and lighted two candles
himself. He did not want the servants prying.

The lights showed Christopher a change in Mr. Lusignan. He looked ten
years older.

"You are not well, sir," said Christopher gently.

"My health is well enough, but I am a broken-hearted man. Dr. Staines,
forget all that passed here at your last visit. All that is over. Thank
you for loving my poor girl as you do; give me your hand; God bless you.
Sir, I am sorry to say it is as a physician I invite you now. She is
ill, sir, very, very ill."

"Ill! and not tell me!"

"She kept it from you, my poor friend, not to distress you; and she
tried to keep it from me, but how could she? For two months she has
had some terrible complaint--it is destroying her. She is the ghost of
herself. Oh, my poor child! my child!"

The old man sobbed aloud. The young man stood trembling, and ashy pale.
Still, the habits of his profession, and the experience of dangers