SURGEONS AT WORK.

393 as a noble tender fellow; and he was dilating upon instances of his self-sacrifice, which, he said, proved heroic friendship to be no fable, when a note was put into Lady Agramont's hand, reminding her that the hour for the arrival of the surgeons was at hand. But there was no need to remind her, and she sat with well-feigned composure listening to his remembrances of friends, and thinking they seemed like portents of a final parting, until the sound of footsteps outside the door of the room caused her to change colour. As the doctors entered, a cold, creeping sensation came over her, and at the sight of Lord Agramont, who was with them, she gave an appealing look, as if in deprecation of the tragedy about to be enacted; but the head surgeon's business-like request, that they might be left alone for a short time, brought her to herself, and with passive obedience she rose to leave the room.

Reginald followed her with his eye; and seeing a tender expression on his face, as if he wished to say something, she stooped over him.

"There is a clear sky above,' he said, encouragingly. 'I shall keep my eye fixed there.'

Lord Agramont gave his wife his arm, and gently led her from the room.

'Stay as near to him as they will let you,' was her pleading request.

'I do not expect you will be excluded for more than a few minutes,' was the husband's encouraging rejoinder.

May, after lingering behind for a time, joined her mamma; but as she found her sitting with her head buried in her hands, her whole attitude showing that her nerves were in a state of extreme tension, she stood hesitating as to how best to dispose of herself, and then went into the hall, in the hope of catching

some sound from the sick-room. All was still-to her awfully so: the dull monotonous passages, so large, so exactly alike, so entirely void of interest, did not prove pleasant lounging-places, and she was glad to creep back to the room, where a few articles of personal use gave a more home-like aspect of things. Lady Agramont had not moved, and feeling the silence oppressive, she sat down at her feet, and placing her arm on her lap, thereby invited notice. This called forth a fondling gesture; and thus emboldened, she laid down her head, and sat still for a time, then hesitatingly ventured the question,

'Mamma, do you know a Chinese proverb to this effect-I don't quite remember the words: "When men are at their ease, they burn no incense; but when trouble comes, they clasp the feet of Fo"?'

'I have never heard it before, love, but I readily recognize its truth. Although a Pagan experience, it will apply very generally,' replied Lady Agramont, altering her position. 'It would be joy indeed if I could hope that our united prayers have been ascending to God for help in this trial,' she added, questioningly.

May was silent: if she could have satisfied her mamma, she would have been too shy to do so; but she did not know how to answer truthfully, and she sat silently pressing her head more affectionately on to her mother's lap, and wondering if the hope that God would help them, and the fear that He would not do so, could be called prayer, then said,

'Frances has told me that Helen thinks it right to tell God even her little troubles.'

'I should have supposed so. There is an expression on her face that only those have who live near to God,' said Lady Agramont, absently.

'I should feel it to be taking a liberty to trouble a Being so

ANXIETIES RELIEVED.

395

great as God with the little things some people seem to speak to Him about,' returned May. 'I don't mean this is a little thing,' she added quickly, her eyes filling and her colour rising.

'Then we may ask Him to help us now,' said Lady Agramont, as if wishing to be quiet. Had her heart been a little less full, she would have reminded May, how in everything we are taught to make known our requests unto God; but she was still silent, and there was a pause.

May sat very still, thinking, and calling to remembrance the fact that all whom she had most loved and trusted,―her mamma, her aunt, her brother, Helen,—were praying people, until her reflections were interrupted by the entrance of Lord Agramont, accompanied by Dr. Worthington, who, in answer to an eager look of inquiry, turned to her mamma, and said,

'I believe we have been entirely successful, and without amputating the limb, my dear lady, we have reason to hope that your son's fine constitution, and may I add, his fine mind, will help him through. Our worst enemy is fever,-that we must guard against most vigilantly. I advise that he remain under the care of the nurse I have selected for the present, and after a little, a quiet cheerful friend will be of great service.' He looked admiringly at May, and added, 'You shall see him presently for a minute, but only for a minute.'

May felt as if she could embrace the doctor out of pure gratitude, while the bright spot on Lady Agramont's cheek testified to the intensity of her feeling. She shook hands with the kind. surgeon, and then retired, feeling the joyous reaction to be more prostrating in its effect than even the suspense had been.

With May it was less so. Although when she went to look after her mamma traces of tears were visible on her countenance, she said, brightly,

'I suppose we've been crying for joy and for sympathy-Helen and I, I mean- -or for some such unreasonable reason. Lord Agramont had told Helen the time of the operation, and she drove over to hear the result. Captain Drummond rode by the side of the carriage, so that I had the pleasure of communicating the good news to both of them. I don't think I ever saw Helen look so nice.' Helen had been closeted, pleading for the life of Reginald Bosanquet, under the delusion that she was praying for those who had a right to love him, but, in fact, she had been praying for herself. Perhaps the look of gratitude that manifested itself on hearing that her petition had been granted, had been the look May so much admired. 'I think she was going to send you a message, but that she changed her mind, knowing that you would understand how glad she is, and that expressions of sympathy are unsatisfactory both to the people sending them and to those to whom they are sent. She proposed my joining them in some lessons. She was determined Frances should not lose her time, and asked Lord Agramont if she might have masters for her.'

'It would be a good opportunity for you,' returned Lady Agramont, absently.

And she went to her son's room, to find him tranquilly sleeping under the influence of a narcotic; but he looked so very ill, a mere shadow of his former self, that she saw the necessity of restraining her joy, and bringing her mind into a state of resignation to whatever might be God's will.

CHAPTER XXIX.

'We'll hear the will!'

FEW weeks having elapsed from the time of the operation, Lady Agramont had the satisfaction of dispensing with the professional nurse, and of having her son more under her own care. It was a great delight too to May to be allowed free access to the sick-room, for the solemn, dignified restrictions of the attendant lately in office had effectually prevented any undue trespass on her domain; and Reginald and she had passed many a joke on the effective qualifications of his keeper, jailer, custodian, or sentry, as they used in turn facetiously to call her.

Very soon after she left, the invalid was pronounced to be in a fit state to take carriage exercise; and very acceptable was the permission; for although everything had been done that could be done to render his sick-room cheerful, the aids to cheerfulness in an hotel in London are but scant, and must come from within rather than without; so that all were hopeful of the good to be derived from clear air and sunshine.

The palace at Sydenham was at that time a novelty: Reginald had not seen it, and after two or three experimental trials as to how far he could go, Lady Agramont said that they would make that their morning drive.