having long been the family attendant. Mrs. Allen and Laura, in a
half-hysterical state, stood clinging to each other, supported by Mr.
Goulden, as the medical gentlemen made a slight examination and
applied restoratives. After a moment they lifted their heads and
looked gravely and significantly at each other; then the family
adviser said:

"Mr. Allen had better be carried at once to his room, and the house
become quiet."

An injudicious guest asked in a loud whisper, "Is it apoplexy?"

Mrs. Allen caught the word, and with a stifled cry fainted dead away,
and was borne to her apartment in an unconscious state. Laura, who had
inherited Mrs. Allen's nervous nature, was also conveyed to her room,
laughing and crying in turns beyond control. Zell still knelt over her
father, sobbing passionately, while Edith, with her large eyes dilated
with fear, and her cheeks in wan contrast with the sunset glow they
had worn all the evening, maintained her presence of mind, and asked
Mr. Goulden, Mr. Van Dam, and Gus Elliot, to carry her father to his
room. They, much pleased in thus being singled out as special friends
of the family, officiously obeyed.

Poor Mr. Allen was borne away from the pinnacle of his imaginary
triumph as if dead, Zell following, wringing her hands, and with
streaming eyes; but Edith reminded one of some wild, timid creature of
the woods, which, though in an extremity of danger and fear, is alert
and watchful, as if looking for some avenue of escape. Her searching
eyes turned almost constantly toward the family physician, and he as
persistently avoided meeting them.