“My dears,” he said, “the doctors speak hopefully of your mother’s condition. Let us be patient and trust in Providence; and for the present, my children, you must control your feelings and keep away from her room.” But this did not satisfy the daughters of Elfrida Force. They plied their father with questions: “What is the matter with mamma?” “Did the doctors tell you what ails her?” “When will she get well?” “How soon may we see her?” And so forth, and so forth. Mr. Force answered these questions as well as he was able, but not at all satisfactorily. The old skipper broke in upon their talk. “Force! I wish to the Lord you would order these girls down to breakfast! Here it is ten o’clock and not one of us has had a mouthful.” “My dears, is that true?” demanded their father. “Oh, we could not touch any food so long as we felt so anxious about dear mamma!” answered Odalite, for the whole party. “Come down at once! Le, give Odalite your arm! Grandiere, take care of Rosemary! Enderby, look after Wynnette! Come, my little Elva, under my own wing,” said the squire. And so the party of eight went down to the public breakfast room, but in truth no one but the earl, the old skipper, and the young lieutenant made any pretense of eating. The husband and daughters of Elfrida Force could not feed while the life of the wife and mother was in jeopardy. But they drank some strong coffee, which served to support their strength. After breakfast the young girls returned to the drawing room under the escort of the earl and the old captain; but Le remained by the side of Abel Force, who walked toward the office of the hotel. “The occupant of the little room adjoining our own has left this morning, and I wish to engage the apartment before any one else takes it; for, Le, if the doctors will not allow me to remain in the same apartment with my suffering wife, I must, at least, be in the next one, if possible,” said Mr. Force, as he went up to the counter. The room was secured, and the two men turned to go upstairs together. “Uncle,” said Le, “Odalite will not give me any answer! Will not fix a day for our marriage until her mother recovers.” “Odalite is right, Le! How can she think of marriage, or of anything but her mother at this crisis?” solemnly inquired Abel Force. “Oh, uncle, we have been so often disappointed, so often put off! It does seem as if fate were against us!” “Don’t be selfish, Le! Think, my dear boy, what anxiety we are all suffering just now!” “I know it, uncle! I know it, and I share it! But how could our marriage affect the present circumstances? It could not increase the danger of my aunt, nor could it heighten our anxiety,” pleaded the youth. “My dear Le, your passion blinds you to the fact that your marriage at this time would be deeply indecorous! Say no more about it, dear lad, until our beloved sufferer is out of danger.” Le sighed profoundly, but did not answer.