"
"My poor, poor darling! strange that with all my care and watchfulness you
should have been subjected to such a trial. Some ruffian has been trying
to extort money from you, I presume, by threatened violence to yourself,
Travilla, and me. Where were you?"
"In my arbor, sir."
"And alone?"
"Yes, papa; I thought myself safe there."
"I forbid you to go there or to any distance from the house, alone, again.
You must always have some one within call, if not close at your side."
"And my father knows I will obey him," she said, tremulously lifting his
hand to her lips.
He administered an anodyne to relieve the tortured nerves, then sitting
down beside her, passed his hand soothingly over hair and cheek, while
with the other he held one of hers in loving, tender clasp. Neither spoke,
and at length she fell asleep; yet not a sound, refreshing slumber, but
disturbed by starts and moans, and frequent wakings to see and feel that
he was still there. "Papa, don't go away; don't leave me!" was her
constant cry.
"My darling, my precious one, I will not," was his repeated assurance; "I
will stay with you while this trouble lasts."
And all that day and night he never left her side, while Rose came and
went, full of anxiety and doing everything that could be done for the
sufferer's relief.
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