"Don't be foolish, Fred dear," said her sister. "Oh! you did not see her face, or the horrible shrug of her shoulders. You cannot know. Has she quite taken possession of us and the house. I wonder what her beloved Precoe can do without her!" "Fred," said Selina, laughing, and kissing her, "you are almost your old self again. It delights me to see you vexed with Prickly Polly." Frederica laughed, partly at the old nickname, and partly at Selina's way of saying it; for French had always been Selina's language with her mother, and she spoke English with an accent not at all like the rest. "But she is not `Prickly Polly' now. She is not easily offended as she used to be. I have not tried certainly; but she has a grand and satisfied air, as though she had but to speak to put things on a pleasant footing--for herself at least." "You must rise, Fred, and sit on this chair. You are quite well, I am sure. She was not ten minutes in the room, and you saw all that." "Oh! Selina," said Frederica, with a sigh, "it is very sad to think now of the days when we were young and had no trouble." "But then, we are still rather young, are we not?" said Selina gravely. "And if you remember, there never was a time when we were quite without trouble. Always mama was ill, and there were other things sometimes." "Yes, that is true." "Mama will not suffer any more, and I am glad for her." But it was a tearful smile that bore witness to her gladness, and Frederica broke into weeping as she looked at her sister's face. "Oh! Lena! Lena!" she gasped, "are we never to have her with us any more? nor papa--" "Hush, Fred! Don't cry like that," said Selina, crying herself, but more gently. "Think how well she is, and how satisfied. And papa may come home; but I don't think he will: I think he will go to mama. He has had all this long time to think, and to be sorry. And Jesus loves him too. He gave Himself for _him_." "Oh! Lena! Lena!" was all that Frederica could say. "And, darling, think how glad mama will be! and nothing shall grieve them any more. We shall be with them there; and you may go very soon, for you are not strong." Frederica was startled by her sister's words. "No. I am not strong: but to die! Lena, I must not die. I must live to take care of you all. Oh! what a foolish girl I am! As though I could do anything!" and her tears fell fast as her sister tried to soothe her. "And, Lena, I would not like to die yet, even to see mama. I am not good like you." "Hush, dear. I think God will let you live to take care of us all. And you are not to cry any more to-night. For indeed, except that you are weak and tired, there is no cause." But Frederica was weak in body and mind, and cried herself to sleep, and Miss Agnace saw with anxiety her flushed wet cheeks when she came in.