Fidelia rose and placed herself with her face turned from the light. "Well?" "Fidelia, you remember grandmother--how very patiently she suffered, and how long? Oh, no one but Dr Everett and myself knows what she suffered! It was a long and terrible time. Every night we used to pray together--she and I--that she might be patient to the end, and that, if it were God's will, the end might be hastened. And so, when I thought-- when the awful fear first came to me that I had all that to go through-- well, for a while my faith failed me. I did not tell any one, not even Dr Everett. That was last year. Then you went away, and the winter was long and lonesome; but I was helped, and strengthened, and comforted, even at the worst time. "It was not all fancy, dear. I had some cause for fear, but the danger for me is not that. I shall have no long time of suffering, they say; and, though I can never hope to be very strong again, I may live and have such health as I have now for years. And, Fidelia, you must not say that I should have told you, and that I should not have let you go away. I could not have you suffer in seeing my suffering as long as I could keep it from you; and you see it was better so. You must have known after a time, if my fears had been realised, but not too soon." Fidelia had listened like one in a dream. Her fears had touched nothing like this. All the time she had been thinking of quite other things. She sank down on her knees, and laid her face on her sister's lap with a cry. "Oh, my Eunice--my Eunice!" Eunice laid her hand on her bowed head, but she did not speak for a while. By-and-by she said, gently-- "Fidelia, listen to me. There is nothing to grieve for. Think how different it might have been, and what a happy summer I have had! Neither pain, nor fear of pain--only a quiet mind, and rest, and peace. Tell me, dear, have you not sometimes been afraid of me, that I might have long suffering before me? And are you not glad and thankful with me? There is nothing to grieve for--nothing. Fidelia, have you never been afraid?" Fidelia raised her head. "Yes, I have been afraid that perhaps, when you came to be an old woman like grandmother, you might have to suffer; but--" "Well, you need not be afraid any more," said Eunice, leaning back as though there was nothing more to be said. "And are you well, Eunice? And have you nothing else to tell me?"