Hardie； and said； 〃Papa！ dear papa！〃
There was great joy： silent on the part of Mrs。 Dodd and Julia； but Mr。 Hardie； who saw in this a good omen； Heaven recognising his penitence； burst out： 〃She knows me； she speaks； she will live。 How good God is！ Yes； my darling child； it is your own father。 You will be brave and get well； for my sake。〃
Jane did not seem to pay much heed to these words： she looked straight before her like one occupied with her own thought； and said distinctly and solemnly； 〃Papasend for Alfred。〃
It fell on all three like a clap of thunder； those gentle but decided tones； those simple natural words。
Julia's eyes flashed into her mother's； and then sought the ground directly。
There was a dead silence。
Mr。 Hardie was the one to speak 〃Why for him； dear？ Those who love you best are all here。〃
〃For Heaven's sake； don't thwart her； sir；〃 said the doctor； in alarm。 〃This is no time to refuse her anything in your power。 Sometimes the very expectation of a beloved person coming keeps them alive； stimulates the powers。〃
Mr。 Hardie was sore perplexed。 He recoiled from the sudden exposure that might take place； if Alfred without any preparation or previous conciliatory measures were allowed to burst in upon them。 And while his mind was whirling within him in doubt and perplexity； Jane spoke again； but no longer calmly and connectedly； she was beginning to wander。 Presently in her wandering she spoke of Edward； called him dear Edward。 Mrs。 Dodd rose hastily； and her first impulse was to ask both gentlemen to retire： so instinctively does a good woman protect her own sex against the other。 But； reflecting that this was the father； she made an excuse and retired herself instead； followed by Julia。 The doctor divined； and went to the window。 The father sat by the bed； and soon gathered his daughter loved Edward Dodd。
The time was gone by when this would have greatly pained him。
He sighed like one overmatched by fate； but said； 〃You shall have him； my darling； he is a good young man； he shall be your husband； you shall be happy。 Only live for my sake； for all our sakes。〃 She paid no attention and wandered on a little； but her mind gradually cleared； and by…and…bye she asked quietly for a glass of water。 Mr。 Hardie gave it her。 She sipped； and he took it from her。 She looked at him close； and said distinctly； 〃Have you sent for Alfred？〃
〃No； love； not yet。〃
〃Not yet？ There is no time to lose；〃 she said gravely。
Mr。 Hardie trembled。 Then； being alone with her； the miserable man unable to say no； unwilling to say yes； tried to persuade her not to ask for Alfred。 〃My dear；〃 he whispered； 〃I will not refuse you： but I have a secret to confide to you。 Will you keep it？〃
〃Yes； papa； faithfully。〃
〃Poor Alfred is not himself。 He has delusions： he is partly insane。 My brother Thomas has thought it best for us all to put him under gentle restraint for a time。 It would retard his cure to have him down here and subject him to excitement。〃
〃Papa；〃 said Jane； 〃are you deceiving me； or are you imposed upon？ Alfred insane！ It is a falsehood。 He came to me the night before the wedding that was to be。 Oh； my brother； my darling brother； how dare they say you are insane！ That letter you showed me then was a falsehood？ Oh； papa！〃
〃I feared to frighten you；〃 said Mr。 Hardie； and hung his head。
〃I see it all；〃 she cried 〃those wicked men with their dark words have imposed on you。 Bring him to me that I may reconcile you all； and end all this misery ere I go hence and be no more seen。〃
〃Oh； my child； don't talk so；〃 cried Mr。 Hardie； trembling。 〃Think of your poor father。〃
〃I do；〃 she cried； 〃I do。 Oh； papa； I lie here between two worlds； and see them both so clear。 Trust to me： and； if you love me〃
〃If I love you； Jane？ Better than all the world twice told。〃
〃Then don't refuse me this one favour： the last； perhaps； I shall ever ask you。 I want my brother here before it is too late。 Tell him he must come to his little sister； who loves him dearly； andis dying。
〃Oh no！ no！ no！〃 cried the agonised father； casting everything to the winds。 〃I will。 He shall be here in twelve hours。 Only promise me to bear up。 Have a strong will； have courage。 You shall have Alfred； you shall have anything you like on earth； anything that money can get you。 What am I saying？ I have no money； it is all gone。 But I have a father's heart。 Madam； Mrs。 Dodd！〃 She came directly。
〃Can you give me paper？ No； I won't trust to a letter。 I'll send off a special messenger this moment。 It is for my son； madam。 He will be here to…morrow morning。 God knows how it will all end。 But how can I refuse my dying child？ Oh； madam； you are good； kind； forgiving； keep my poor girl alive for me： keep telling her Alfred is coming； she cares more for him than for her poor heart…broken father。〃
And the miserable man rushed out； leaving Mrs。 Dodd in tears for him。
He was no sooner gone than Julia came in； and clasped her mother； and trembled on her bosom。 Then Mrs。 Dodd knew she had overheard Mr。 Hardie's last words。
Jane Hardie； too； though much exhausted by the scene with her father； put out her hand to Julia； and took hers； and said feebly； but with a sweet smile； 〃He is coming； love； all shall be well。〃 Then to herself as it were； and looking up with a gentle rapture in her pale face
〃Blessed are the peacemakers； for they shall be called the children of God。〃
On this thought she seemed to feed with innocent joy； but for a long time was too weak to speak again。
Mr。 Hardie； rushing from the house； found Edward at work outside； he was crying undisguisedly； and with his coat off； working harder at spreading the straw than both the two men together he had got to help him。 Mr。 Hardie took his hand and wrung it； but could not speak。
In half an hour a trusty agent he had often employed was at the station waiting for the up train； nearly due。
He came back to Albion Villa。 Julia met him on the stairs with her fingers to her lips。 〃She is sleeping； the doctor has hopes。 Oh； sir； let us all pray for her day and night。〃
Mr。 Hardie blessed her； it seemed the face of an angel； so earnest； so lovely； so pious。 He went home： and at the door of his own house Peggy met him with anxious looks。 He told her what he had done。
〃Good Heavens！〃 said she； 〃have you forgotten？ He says he will kill you the first day he gets out。 You told me so yourself。〃
〃Yes； Baker said so。 I can't help it。 I don't care what becomes of me； I care only for my child。 Leave me； Peggy； there； go； go。〃
He was no sooner alone than he fell upon his knees； and offered the Great Author of life and deatha bargain。 〃O God；〃 he cried； 〃I own my sins； and I repent them。 Spare but my child； who never sinned against Thee； and I will undo all I have done amiss in Thy sight。 I will refund that money on which Thy curse lies。 I will throw myself on their mercy。 I will set my son free。 I will live on a pittance。 I will part with Peggy。 I will serve Mammon no more。 I will attend Thine ordinances。 I will live soberly； honestly； and godly all the remainder of my days； only do Thou spare my child。 She is Thy servant； and does Thy work on earth； and there is nothing on earth I love but her。〃
And now the whistle sounded； the train moved； and his messenger was flying fast to London； with a note to Dr。 Wycherley：
〃DEAR SIR；My poor daughter lies dangerously wounded； and perhaps at the point of death。 She cries for her brother。 He must come down to us instantly with the bearer of this。 Send one of your people with him if you like。 But it is not necessary。 I enclose a blank cheque； signed； which please fill at your discretion。I am； with thanks； yours in deep distress；
〃RICHARD HARDIE〃
CHAPTER XXXIX
DR。 SHORT arrived； approved Dr。 Phillips's treatment； and said the case was severe but not hopeless； and he would call again。 A bed was prepared in the house for Mr。 Hardie： but neither he nor any of the Dodds closed an eye that sorrowful night。
About midnight； after a short slumber； the sufferer became uneasy； and begged to be left with Julia。 Julia was sent for； and found her a good deal excited。 She inquired more than once if they were quite alone； and then asked for paper and a pencil。 She wrote a few lines； and made Julia put them in a cover and seal them。 〃Now。 dear friend；〃 she said； 〃promise me not to open this； nor even to let your mother； it is not for your happiness that what I have written should be seen by her or you； no； no； much better not。 Come； dear friend； pledge me your honour。〃 Julia pledged her honour。
Then Jane wrote on the cover； 〃From a dying sister。〃 Julia saw that； and wept sore。
Jane comforted her。 〃Do not weep for me； love： I am content to go； or stay。 This is not my doing； so I know it must be for the best。 He is leading me by a way that I know not。 Oh； my beloved friend； how sweet it is to lie in His hands； and know no will but His。 Ay； I thank Him for crossing my will； and leading me to Himself by His own good way； and not by poor blind； foolish mine。〃
In this spirit of full resignation she abode constant； and consoled her weeping friends from time to time； whenever she was quite herself。
About daybreak； being alone with her father； she shed a few tears at his lonely condition。 〃I fear you will miss me；〃 said she。 〃Take my advice； dear； be reconciled with Alfred at once； and let Julia be your daughter； since I am leaving you。 She is all humility and heart。 Dying； I prize her and her affection more highly； I seem to see characters clearer； all things clearer； than I did before my summons came。〃
The miserable father tried to be playful and scold her： 〃You must not talk nor think of death；〃 he said。 〃Your bridal…day is to come first； I know all； Edward Dodd has told me he loves you。 He is a fine noble fellow； you shall marry him： I wish it。 Now； for his sake； summon all your resolution； and make up your mind to live。 Why； at your age； it needs but to say； 'I will live； I will； I will；' and when all the prospect is so smiling； when love awaits you at the altar； and on every side！ If you could leave your poor doting father； do not leave your lover： and here he is with his mother crying for you。 Let me comfort him； l