"Have I asked your advice?" said Josephine. Her scowl dissuaded Ida from a second remonstrance. In reckless audacity, she proceeded straight to her father's chamber. It was pitiable to see that gray-haired man--helpless as infancy with disease, and remember that his frayed thread of life was entwisted with the golden cord of hers, who had barely attained the meridian of her early womanhood. Josephine's visits had been rare and brief, and his salutation was surly. "To what am I indebted for this superlative pleasure?" he inquired, stretching his upper lip across his teeth, as was his wont, when displeased. "If I had supposed that my presence was conducive to your comfort, no consideration should have detained me from you sir," was the meaning rejoinder. He did not answer, but moved uneasily, and asked his wife for water. The goblet was nearest Josephine, and she held it to him. "Lift my head!" he said, fretfully, "Ugh! you hurt me! this comes of your officiousness. Why couldn't you let _her_ do it?" "I regret, sir, that my unskilful touch is painful," said Josephine, "since you are to be dependent upon my cares." "What the deuce are you talking about?" he demanded, sharply. The slumberous eyes surveyed her listlessly over the couch. "My speech is blunt, sir; I learned it from you, and I have an inconvenient practice of saying what I think. Old men, who have young and fashionable wives, should not indulge in the luxury of sickness. What woman, who has a right appreciation of her charms, can hesitate what course to pursue, when a decrepid husband is put in one scale--society and a score of beaux in the other?" His glare of impotent fury was demoniacal--he was too weak to control it. The liquid eyes were dreamy and motionless still. The irascible old man jerked his head so that he could see her face--"Helen! what is that girl driving at?" "She can best explain herself, sir." "Speak!" he commanded, at the top of his tremulous voice. "I hope you have made your will, sir;" said Josephine, deliberately. "By my life, I _will_ do it, and cut you off, without a copper, if you parley much more?" "You virtually severed our connection two months ago, sir. A stranger has supplanted me in your heart and house; and up to this time, I have held my peace. This is my revenge. Your idol, having used you for her pleasure and advancement, does not mean that this sickness, caused by your doating indulgence, shall fetter her dainty limbs. On the contrary, it frees her from the restraint of your observation,--the incumbrance of your attentions." She dropped each word slowly, purposely to aggravate his impatience, which was now frightful. Manacled, bound down by the fiery bands of his malady, he writhed, as upon a Procrustean bed. "Helen! speak! tell her she lies!" "I never reply to inuendoes, sir." The eyes were passionless as ever.