“The count is not a good man, Miss Cameron?” “You know he is not, Margaret. He is the worst man alive.” “Then it cannot be God’s will that you should go to him.” “But one does many things that are not God’s will.” “But it is God’s will that you should not go to him.” Euphra lay silent for a few moments. Suddenly she exclaimed: “Then I must not go to him,”—got out of bed, threw herself on her knees by the bedside, and holding up her clasped hands, said, in low tones that sounded as if forced from her by agony: “I won’t! I won’t! O God, I will not. Help me, help me!” Margaret knelt beside her, and put her arm round her. Euphra spoke no more, but remained kneeling, with her extended arms and clasped hands lying on the bed, and her head laid between them. At length Margaret grew alarmed, and looked at her. But she found that she was in a sweet sleep. She gently disengaged herself, and covering her up soft and warm, left her to sleep out her God-sent sleep undisturbed, while she sat beside, and watched for her waking. She slept thus for an hour. Then lifting her head, and seeing Margaret, she rose quietly, as if from her prayers, and said with a smile: “Margaret, I was dreaming that I had a mother.” “So you have, somewhere.” “Yes, so I have, somewhere,” she repeated, and crept into bed like a child, lay down, and was asleep again in a moment. Margaret watched her for another hour, and then seeing no signs of restlessness, but that on the contrary her sleep was profound, lay down beside her, and soon shared in that repose which to weary women and men is God’s best gift. She rose at her usual hour the next day, and was dressed before Euphra awoke. It was a cold grey December morning, with the hoar-frost lying thick on the roofs of the houses. Euphra opened her eyes while Margaret was busy lighting the fire. Seeing that she was there, she closed them again, and fell once more fast asleep. Before she woke again, Margaret had some tea ready for her; after taking which, she felt able to get up. She rose looking more bright and hopeful than Margaret had seen her before.