"Yes," said May softly, "it means that, dear. I've always been like a spoiled child. Poor papa has made me his idol, and I've been so weak and foolish. I can see it all now, since I have been ill. Claire, I hope they will not take poor Louis and punish him for this." "No, no, dear; he has gone far away; but pray, pray, say no more." "I must," she said smiling. "I have wasted so much time that I cannot spare a moment now. Ah, Claire, if I had been like you!" "I wish you had been happier than ever I have been," said Claire sadly. "Now try and sleep." "I want to talk to you about baby, Claire dear," continued May, without heeding her sister's words. She laughed softly, and her sister gazed at her in wonder, thinking that she was wandering again, as in the days of her long delirium. "I was laughing about baby," she said. "Such a droll little soft thing. I laughed when I saw it first, for we both seemed to be such bits of girls, and it seemed such nonsense for me to be the poor little tot's mother. I have never been like a mother to it, though, leaving it always to strangers; but you, Claire, you will see to it, and be a better mother to her than ever I could." "You shall get better, May, and make your little one a blessing to you when we are far away from here." "Yes," said May with the same peculiar look, "far away from here. Poor little baby! Does my father know?" "Yes: everything now, dear." "Oh, yes, I had forgotten: he kissed me as if he did, and forgave his weak, wilful child." "How is she?" whispered Denville, entering the room softly a few minutes later. "Asleep," said Claire in the same tone. "Is she--do you think she--" He trailed off in his speech, and ended by looking imploringly in his daughter's face. "I dare not say," said Claire mournfully. "Father, she is very ill." "Then you must nurse her, Claire," said the old man excitedly, as he caught her hand to hold it tightly. "You must get her well, so that we can go--all go--far away--where we are not known. We cannot stay here in misery and debt and disgrace. Everything is against us now. My old position is gone. I dare not walk to the Assembly-Room, for fear of some insult or slight. I am the Master of the Ceremonies only in name. I am disgraced." "Then we will go," said Claire sadly; "but it cannot be yet. Have patience, dear." She laid her hand upon the old man's shoulder, and bent forward and kissed his cheek. He caught her in his arms. "You do not shrink from me?" he said bitterly. "Shrink? No, father; I am your child. Now, tell me--about money--what are we to do?" Denville shook his head. "There is only one way out of the difficulty, Claire." "A way, father?"