He sent up his card, and his father sent down to him to come upstairs to their private parlor, where he found his parents looking pale and dejected as they sat together alone. CHAPTER XXII. Molly slept quietly the long night through, under the influence of the doctor’s soothing medicine, and it was far into the morning when she awakened and found her faithful Phebe sitting by her side. “Well, I thought you were going to sleep all day, Mrs. Laurens,” she exclaimed. Molly started and rolled her heavy dark eyes around the room. “Has--has--any one been here to see me?” she queried, faintly, an instant remembrance of her woes rushing over her mind. “Yes, madame,” Phebe answered, and a wild light of hope flashed into the big, pathetic eyes of her mistress. “Not--not,” she exclaimed, and choked with painful emotion, unable to utter another word. “No, not your husband, my dear, but his brother, Doctor Charley,” said Phebe, gently stroking the little hand that lay outside the cover, nervously beating the silken counterpane. “He came and found you sleeping so sweetly that he said he would not wait, as he was in a hurry to catch a train for Paris.” “He has gone! My last friend has deserted me,” Molly exclaimed in sudden, keen disappointment and despair. “Not so bad as that, Mrs. Laurens, for he left a note that he said would explain all.” “Give it to me, Phebe,” cried the poor child, sitting upright in bed and holding out her eager little hands. She tore off the envelope in hot haste and read the hurriedly penciled lines with that morning’s date. “My poor little sister, I failed to find Cecil last night. Like a coward he has run away from his misery, and I have just found out that he has gone to Paris. I must follow him at once, for I mean to bring him back to you. Take heart, be of good cheer, little one, and remain where you are until I come back with Cecil. I have talked to mother and father; but in the first keenness of their trouble they are obdurate. But be patient. They will all come round in time and forgive you for the sake of what is coming, and because you were so young and ignorant. Adieu. “CHARLEY.” “God bless him! God bless him for his noble heart!” Molly cried, with streaming eyes. “Oh, Phebe, is it not noble in him to befriend me when they have all forsaken me?” “I have stood by you, too, Mrs. Laurens. Do not forget my love although it is so humble,” cried the faithful maid. Molly flung herself gratefully into her arms, and sobbed out her passionate thanks with raining tears. “Yesterday I was rich in friends, but today I have no one but you, dear Phebe, and Doctor Charley,” she sighed. “Oh, my dear, do not take it so hard. All will come right again. There now, lie down on your pillow, and let me bring you some breakfast,” she said, abruptly, to hide her emotion.