"My boy," he said, "do you know that your mother has been for some
time ailing?"

"No, indeed," Frank said with a gasp of pain and surprise.

"It is so, my boy. I have been attending her for some time. She
has been suffering from fainting fits brought on by weakness of
the heart's action. Two hours since I was sent for and found her
unconscious. My poor boy, you must compose yourself. God is good and
merciful, though his decrees are hard to bear. Your mother passed
away quietly half an hour since, without recovering consciousness."

Frank gave a short cry, and then sat stunned by the suddenness
of the blow. The doctor drew out a small case from his pocket and
poured a few drops from the phial into a glass, added some water,
and held it to Frank's lips.

"Drink this, my boy," he said.

Frank turned his head from the offered glass. He could not speak.

"Drink this, my boy," the doctor said again; "it will do you good.
Try and be strong for the sake of your little sister, who has only
you in the world now."

The thought of Lucy touched the right chord in the boy's heart,
and he burst into a passionate fit of crying. The doctor allowed
his tears to flow unchecked.