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e phantoms of his narrow…minded sister！ But Isabel never did； when Miss Corny lapsed into her grumbling mood； she would hear in silence； or gently bend her aching forehead in her hands； never retorting。
Never before Mr。 Carlyle was the lady's temper vented upon her； plenty fell to his own share； when he and his sister were alone； and he had become so accustomed to the sort of thing all his lifehad got used to it； like the eels do to skinningthat it went； as the saying runs； in at one ear and out at the other； making no impression。 He never dreamt that Isabel also received her portion。
It was a morning early in April。 Joyce sat； in its gray dawn； over a large fire in the dressing…room of Lady Isabel Carlyle； her hands clasped to pain； and the tears coursing down her cheeks。 Joyce was frightened； she had had some experience in illness； but illness of this nature she had never witnessed； and she was fervently hoping never to witness it again。 In the adjoining room lay Lady Isabel； sick nearly unto death。
The door from the corridor slowly opened； and Miss Carlyle slowly entered。 She had probably never walked with so gentle a step in all her life； and she had got a thick…wadded mantle over her head and ears。 Down she sat in a chair quite meekly； and Joyce saw that her face looked as gray as the early dawn。
〃Joyce；〃 whispered she； 〃is there any danger？〃
〃Oh； ma'am； I trust not！ But it's hard to witness； and it must be awful to bear。〃
〃It is our common curse； Joyce。 You and I may congratulate ourselves that we have not chose to encounter it。 Joyce；〃 she added； after a pause； 〃I trust there's no danger； I should not like her to die。〃
Miss Carlyle spoke in a low； dread tone。 Was she fearing that； if her poor young sister…in…law did die； a weight would rest on her own conscience for all timea heavy； ever…present weight； whispering that she might have rendered her short year of marriage more happy； had she chosen； and that she had not so chosen； but had deliberately steeled every crevice of her heart against her？ Very probably； she looked anxious and apprehensive in the morning's twilight。
〃If there's any danger； Joyce〃
〃Why； do you think there's danger； ma'am？〃 interrupted Joyce。 〃Are other people not as ill as this？〃
〃It is to be hoped they are not；〃 rejoined Miss Carlyle。 〃And why is the express gone to Lynneborough for Dr。 Martin？〃
Up started Joyce； awe struck。 〃An express for Dr。 Martin！ Oh； ma'am！ Who sent it？ When did it go？〃
〃All I know is； that's its gone。 Mr。 Wainwright went to your master； and he came out of his room and sent John galloping to the telegraph office at West Lynne； where could your ears have been； not to hear the horse tearing off？ /I/ heard it； I know that； and a nice fright it put me in。 I went to Mr。 Carlyle's room to ask what was amiss； and he said he did not know himselfnothing； he hoped。 And then he shut his door again in my face； instead of stopping to speak to me as any other Christian would。〃
Joyce did not answer； she was faint with apprehension； and there was a silence； broken only by the sounds from the next room。 Miss Carlyle rose； and a fanciful person might have thought she was shivering。
〃I can't stand this； Joyce； I shall go。 If they want coffee； or anything of that； it can be sent here。 Ask。〃
〃I will presently； in a few minutes；〃 answered Joyce； with a real shiver。 〃You are not going in； are you； ma'am？〃 she uttered； in apprehension； as Miss Carlyle began to steal on tip…toe to the inner… door； and Joyce had a lively consciousness that her sight would not be an agreeable one to Lady Isabel。 〃They want the room free； they sent me out。〃
〃Not I；〃 answered Miss Corny。 〃I could do no good； and those who cannot； are better away。〃
〃Just what Mr。 Wainwright said when he dismissed me；〃 murmured Joyce。 And Miss Carlyle finally passed into the corridor and withdrew。
Joyce sat on； it seemed to her an interminable time。 And then she heard the arrival of Dr。 Martin； heard him go into the next room。 By and by Mr。 Wainwright came out of it； into the room where Joyce was sitting。 Her tongue clove to the roof of her mouth； and before she could bring out the ominous words； 〃Is there any danger？〃 he had passed through it。
Mr。 Wainwright was on his way to the apartment where he expected to find Mr。 Carlyle。 The latter was pacing it； he had so paced it all the night。 His pale face flushed as the surgeon entered。
〃You have little mercy on my suspense； Wainwright。 Dr。 Martin has been here this twenty minutes。 What does he say？〃
〃Well； he cannot say any more than I did。 The symptoms are critical； but he hopes she will do well。 There's nothing for it but patience。〃
Mr。 Carlyle resumed his weary walk。
〃I come now to suggest that you should send for Little。 In these protracted cases〃
The speech was interrupted by a cry from Mr。 Carlyle； half horror； half despair。 For the Rev。 Mr。 Little was the incumbent of St。 Jude's； and his apprehensions had flownhe hardly knew to what they had flown。
〃Not for your wife；〃 hastily rejoined the surgeon〃what good should a clergyman do to her？ I spoke on the score of the child。 Should it not live； it may be satisfactory to you and Lady Isabel to know that it was baptized。〃
〃I thank youI thank you；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle grasping his hand； in his inexpressible relief。 〃Little shall be sent for。〃
〃You jumped to the conclusion that your wife's soul was flitting。 Please God； she may yet live to bear you other children； if this one does die。〃
〃Please God！〃 was the inward aspiration of Mr。 Carlyle。
〃Carlyle；〃 added the surgeon； in a musing sort of tone； as he laid his hand on Mr。 Carlyle's shoulder； which his own head scarcely reached； 〃I am sometimes at death…beds where the clergyman is sent for in this desperate need to the fleeting spirit； and I am tempted to ask myself what good another man； priest though he be； can do at the twelfth hour； where accounts have not been made up previously？〃
It was hard upon midday。 The Rev。 Mr。 Little； Mr。 Carlyle； and Miss Carlyle were gathered in the dressing…room； round a table； on which stood a rich china bowl； containing water for the baptism。 Joyce； her pale face working with emotion； came into the room； carrying what looked like a bundle of flannel。 Little cared Mr。 Carlyle for the bundle； in comparison with his care for his wife。
〃Joyce；〃 he whispered； 〃is it well still？〃
〃I believe so； sir。〃
The services commenced。 The clergyman took the child。 〃What name？〃 he asked。
Mr。 Carlyle had never thought about the name。 But he replied； pretty promptly。
〃William；〃 for he knew it was a name revered and loved by Lady Isabel。
The minister dipped his fingers in the water。 Joyce interrupted in much confusion； looking at her master。
〃It is a little girl； sir。 I beg your pardon； I'm sure I thought I had said so； but I'm so flurried as I never was before。〃
There was a pause； and then the minister spoke again。 〃Name the child。〃
〃Isabel Lucy；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。 Upon which a strange sort of resentful sniff was heard from Miss Corny。 She had probably thought to hear him mention her own； but he had named it after his wife and his mother。
Mr。 Carlyle was not allowed