Page 624 of 896

He closed the lattice again with a fluttering heart, closed the

window and the curtain, hastened to Lucie, and told her that her

father was assisted by the people, and gone in search of her

husband. He found her child and Miss Pross with her; but, it

never occurred to him to be surprised by their appearance until a

long time afterwards, when he sat watching them in such quiet as

the night knew.

Lucie had, by that time, fallen into a stupor on the floor at his

feet, clinging to his hand. Miss Pross had laid the child down on

his own bed, and her head had gradually fallen on the pillow

beside her pretty charge. O the long, long night, with the moans

of the poor wife! And O the long, long night, with no return of

her father and no tidings!