"Nellie dear, you must comfort papa. You must remind him that the time will be very short before we meet again. You must do all you can to cheer him. Not at first, dear—" She paused; then gathering breath again, "But after a while; not by forgetting, Nellie, but by remembering—remembering how happy we have been, and how soon we shall meet again. We have not tried to forget your own mother, have we, Nellie?" "No, indeed; never, dear mamma." "No; and so I do not want you to banish my name, but think of meeting me and her so very soon—, so very soon!" The soft voice ceased, and Nellie looked towards Ada in dismay; for a death-like faintness seemed to overspread the features. Ada hastily rose and again administered the restorative. "Thank you, dear," said her mother, looking upon her, oh, with what love! "Kiss me, Ada." Ada bent down and gave the required kiss, but retreated again to the table, and took up her old station there. Mrs. Arundel stretched out her hand for Nellie's, and again began to speak. "Then there are our dear children. Take care of Ada and Arthur, my elder ones. Guard them, if you can, from the wicked world." She paused, and looking upwards, seemed to be praying; and Nellie heard the words softly whispered, "I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou wouldst keep them from the evil." "He will care for them, Nellie. And my little ones, teach them to love Jesus. If I knew I were saying my last word on earth, it would be, 'Teach them to love Jesus.'" "My little Tom! Nellie, I don't feel anxious about him; only so afraid of what he will suffer for a little while without me; but it may not be long. I hope for him it will not be long." "Then my poor little baby boy. But I know you and Ada will care for him, and teach him of Jesus; will you not, Ada?" Ada gave the promise she asked for, in a tone which was almost hoarse in its effort to be calm, and then turned away again, unable to bear it. At last Nellie gathered courage to whisper a few words of comfort. "Dear mamma," she said with infinite tenderness, "as you dealt with the dead, so will I try to deal with you. I will faithfully do my best, God helping me, to fulfill all your wishes, even as you did what my own mother would have wished. "I shall never, never forget your love. Now take comfort; and while it breaks my heart even to say it, yet let me assure you, Ada and I will do all we can to fill your place." Nellie could say no more. The tender words were said with a throat that seemed to ache intolerably; and then she could only bend down, and kiss the white hand that lay in hers, over and over again. Mrs. Arundel seemed satisfied, and fell quietly asleep as they watched her. Ada beckoned to Nellie to go down; and just at this moment Nurse Raymond stole in, and made signs to the same effect; so she gently slipped her hand from the loosening clasp, and left the room, descending to the dining-room.