ing his regret to his step-father at so inauspicious a commencement of their acquaintance.

'We are all prepared to be nurses for the present,' was Lord Agramont's gracious reply, and he proceeded to minister to his comfort in a way which proved that he, at least, was not unfitted for the calling.

'Clean linen and a bed on terra firma are too tempting to be resisted,' said Reginald, in an almost inaudible voice, but with an attempt at cheerfulness.

This effort to inspirit them was so evidently an effort, that Lord Agramont, in order to spare him further excitement, asked his mother to intrust him to his care for a time. She accordingly left the room; and when the two gentlemen were alone, Reginald explained that much of his present suffering arose from a splinter of bone in his shoulder, which, although he had undergone considerable mangling in the attempts made at its extraction, was still unremoved, and that while such was the case he must remain as far off recovery as at the time of the accident.

'In that case the sooner surgical aid is called in the better,' returned Lord Agramont. And after helping his patient to undress, he soon resigned his place to Lady Agramont, and turned his thoughts to the doctors.

Once again by the bed-side of her son, Lady Agramont stooped to kiss him, and seeing large drops of perspiration standing on his brow, she supplied him with one of her soft handkerchiefs for their removal; then, discovering that he could not raise his arm, gently proceeded to wipe away the damp hair from hist blanched forehead.

'It is jolly to be a boy again!' was the faint acknowledgment, and he smiled as a substitute for words he was unable to utter.

This attempt at sportfulness so affected Lady Agramont, that

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for a moment she lost control over herself: her heart was too full to speak, and she stood choking down her emotion, while lifting up her heart to God in silent supplication that he who seemed on the very confines of eternity might even yet be spared to her. Thy will be done' did not form part of her prayer then-it was a passionate appeal for Divine mercy.

Reginald divined the cause of her silence, and said affectionately,

'We need stern discipline to bring us to our bearings. Do not allow yourself to be unduly anxious. Thanks to you, I believe it will be well with me either way; but I have great hope that a skilful manipulator will relieve me at once, and if not, this is a very different sick-couch to the one that might have been mine. It is a part of the Christian philosophy you taught me to be prepared for whatever may happen,' he added, cheerfully.

Here a tray was brought in with refreshments, and Lady Agramont roused herself to administer them, and told May to seat herself on the bed, to help to support her brother.

May gladly did as she was desired; and Reginald asked, 'Do you know how Drummond is? It was thought doubtful if he would reach England alive.'

'I think he is quite well-he seemed so,' said May. 'He came up to London with Helen and Frances. They are our sisters, you know. We were staying at Lawton Hall when your telegram arrived.'

Reginald looked interested, but merely remarked that 'Vero would not give in while he had a leg to stand upon,' and proceeded to partake of the food set before him, while May amused him with a description of their new relationships, and the delight she experienced in them; taking care so to measure and modulate her voice as to render it acceptable to nerves the most sensitive.

While they were thus engaged, Lord Agramont entered the room to announce the arrival of the doctor, and the ladies withdrew. After a few leading questions having been put, the splinter was pronounced to be the exciting cause of the suffering to which their patient was being subjected; further aid was summoned, and a consultation took place, the opinion resulting from which was, that amputation of the arm would probably be considered necessary.

Reginald requested an undisguised opinion of his case, and on being told that the fact of the wound having been probed by unskilful hands might occasion an important operation, he suggested that it would be desirable that his mother might remain uninformed as to particulars. Lord Agramont proposed that he should be removed to his town residence; but the doctors vetoed the proposition at once, and giving directions as to the treatment to be observed during the time that was to intervene before the surgeons were to try their skill, they left the hotel.

Under any circumstances there is something very trying in the anticipation of a surgical operation,-where the subject to be operated on is an only son, intensely so; and all will pity Lady Agramont, as she strives bravely to suppress herself, and to cheer and strengthen her patient.

A great part of each day was spent, both by her and May, in the sick-room. She had requested that her son might be left to her sole charge until the services of a more experienced nurse were deemed to be essential; and although she was particular in enforcing quiet and forbidding conversation, there were times when Reginald would parry her injunctions with a joke, and relieve the monotony of the sick-room by narrations of his past experiences. His favourite theme was Vero, whom he described