"I am tired, aunt. Graham talked a long time. He had something to tell me. His uncle is dead, and he has come into the fortune." "Ah!--" said Aunt Faith. She made no other comment, but waited for her niece to speak. "Graham is going to Saratoga next week," continued Sibyl slowly. "He thinks of removing to New York for a permanent home; he likes city life, you know." "Yes," said Aunt Faith again; but she said no more. Sibyl closed the windows, replaced the chairs, and fastened the front-door; then, as she carelessly turned the leaves of a book on the table, she said at last, "Mr. Leslie was here, I believe?" "Yes: he came to tell me that Margaret Brown and the children were safely established in the farm-house." "Did he ask for me?" said Sibyl, as she extinguished the hall lamps. "No, my dear," answered Aunt Faith, and Sibyl went to her room without another word. Two days came and went, and Mr. Leslie did not appear. "I say, you people!" said Tom, bursting into the dining-room at tea-time. "Did you know that Mr. Leslie was sick? Dangerously sick, Jim Morse says; not expected to live, I believe." "Thomas!" said Aunt Faith with unusual severity, "what do you mean? Tell the truth." "Well, he's sick, any way; and Jim heard his mother say it was a dangerous fever. Hallo, Sibyl! what's the matter? How pale you are!" "No more pale than the rest of us," interrupted Bessie, with a quick glance at Sibyl; "we all like Mr. Leslie, don't we?" "Of course we do. He's the best man in the world," said Gem fervently. "I shall go and see him immediately," said Hugh, rising. "Oh, Hugh, it is probably the same fever the Brown children have!" said Aunt Faith anxiously. "You must not expose yourself needlessly." "In this call I consider it necessary, Aunt Faith," said Hugh. "Mr. Leslie has no near relatives, and although he is loved by his congregation, dread of the fever will keep most of them away; besides, they cannot leave their work. He will be left to hired nurses and you know what Westerton nurses are!" "Go, then, my boy, and may God be with you," said Aunt Faith, with tears in her eyes. The tea-table was soon deserted. Sibyl went to her room, Tom and Gem took refuge in the back garden with the three dogs to bear them company, but Aunt Faith and Bessie sat on the piazza waiting for Hugh's return. "After all," said Bessie, "we need not feel so anxious. The report has passed through several mouths; no doubt it is exaggerated." "I hope so," replied Aunt Faith; "and still I have a strong presentiment that Mr. Leslie is very ill. His face looked strangely worn and pallid as he sat there that last evening, and when fever attacks a man as strong and full of life as he is, the contest is far more severe than with a more feeble patient." Eight o'clock struck, but still Hugh did not return. A step sounded up the walk in the dusky twilight, but it was not his; Graham Marr appeared, and again asked for Miss Warrington.