"You may go now," says she, wiping her Eyes and smiling up at me, "for, strange as it may seem to you, I'm the better for this Cry. Go up now, go softly; and send dear _Mother_ down to me presently, if you can, for she needs Rest and Refreshment." I said, "I will," and went up. My _Father_ was dozing when I entered--my _Mother_ sitting beside him, with her Hands clasped on her Knee. As soon as she saw me, she mutely held out her Arms without rising; and the next Instant I was folded to her Heart. We spoke a little in Whispers; and for a While I thought not nor desired to persuade her to go. At length I did; and she, after a little Resistance, yielded; for she was very much exhausted. I quietly took her Place, and remained in it a long While, inactive in Body, but with a Mind how busy! Home, at last! and to a Scene how changed! Everything as still and quiet as on _Larkfield_ Moor! He that had been the Life of many a noisy, convivial Party, laid low--perhaps rapidly drawing nigh an unknown World. My _Mother_, roused from her incapable State by strong Affection; _Prue_, loving me again, and in Tears--Mr. _Fenwick_ gone! What a Dream this World seems sometimes! Besides, my Head was mazed with my Journey, and I was stiff with so much Jolting, and the Closeness and Warmth of the Chamber after the biting Cold of the outer Air made me feel drowsy. But I would not yield to it. A Coffin flew out of the Fire. I was thankful not to be superstitious. But yet I'd as lief it had been a Purse. I thought of _Gatty's_ lone Watch; and how much harder her Post was than mine. I was not incurring personal Danger in the Service of an imperious, unfeeling Patient; I was not separated from a Mother and Sister whom I loved; I was watching over some one very dear to me. Thinking of her and of my _Father_ and _Mother_, I framed my Thoughts to Prayer. Suddenly my _Father_, without opening his Eyes, murmured, "_Delia!_ Give me your Hand!... Poor _Delia_, I have been very untoward to thee--" Silently, I placed my Hand in his. _Cordelia_ was my _Mother's_ Name, but he was accustomed to call her _Delia_ for short; or rather, _had_ been accustomed, in their old Days of Love and Harmony. I took it for a good Sign, his calling her so again; it showed that his Illness and her Tenderness had melted him. I always liked his Abbreviation of her Name, myself, though _Prue_ thought it only fit for a China Shepherdess. "Who have I got hold of?" says he. "This isn't _Delia's_ Hand!--Ah, I see the Shadow of _Patty's_ Nose against the Bed-curtain. Welcome, Child! come, kiss thy poor old _Dad_." Daddy, again, was a Word he never used but lovingly. I stooped over him, and kissed him two or three Times; then set him completely to rights, for his Head had slipped off the Pillow, and he was lying very uncomfortably, without the Power to right himself.