"I should wish you to be prepared, should it be God's will to call you away," answered the doctor, much moved. "If you will give authority to your devoted friend, Mr. Roger Kyffin, I am sure he will act the part of a parent to your boy. I expect him here this evening, and as he wishes to see Harry, I will drive over to Lady Tryon and request her ladyship to allow me to bring your boy back to you. Certainly in most cases a child's grandmother is a proper person to act as guardian, but though I attend Lady Tryon professionally when she is in the country, I am unable to express a satisfactory opinion as to her fitness for the task. I begged my friend Tom Wallis, the solicitor at Lynderton, to ride over here with Mr. Kyffin; so that should you wish to place your boy under the legal protection of your old friend, you may be able to do so." "Surely his grandmother is a proper person to take charge of Harry; though I have no cause to regard her with affection," said Fanny, in a faint voice, "yet I could with more confidence consign him to that kind and generous man, Mr. Kyffin; I will do therefore as he wishes, only requesting that the boy may be allowed to remain as much as possible during his childhood with his grandmother." Poor Fanny! a lingering feeling of pride prompted this resolution. Far better would it have been, in all human probability, for the boy, had she committed him entirely to her faithful friend's care, and not mentioned Lady Tryon. The doctor knew too well that his patient had not many hours to live. He hurried off to Aylestone Hall, the residence of Lady Tryon. The old lady expressed herself delighted with the child, and was very unwilling to part with him. Indeed, though she was told of her daughter-in-law's dangerous state, she positively refused to give him up, unless the doctor promised to bring him back again. Harry was accordingly placed in the doctor's carriage, which drove rapidly back to Mrs. Tryon's cottage. "I can give you but little hopes," said the doctor to Roger Kyffin, whom, in company with Mr. Wallis, he met at the cottage gate. Roger Kyffin sighed deeply. The little boy flew towards his mother. She had scarcely strength to bend forward to meet him. The doctor held him while she pressed him to her bosom. "May he come in?" asked the doctor. "Yes," she whispered, "I should be glad to see him before I die; you were right, doctor, and kind to warn me." Roger Kyffin entered the room, but his knees trembled, and he could scarcely command his voice. Fanny thanked him for all his kindness; "continue it," she said, "to this poor child."