'No. I will put all these tiresome papers away. I shall not have my Effie to talk to to-morrow night.'

'It is very lonely for you here, papa, all by yourself,' said Effie, stroking her father's hand. 'I wish you could come and live with us at the Folly always.'

'So do I, Effie. But what should we do about the bread and cheese? eh?'

'Oh, I'm sure we have plenty. What's the good of being so very rich? It's much nicer to be all happy together.'

'So it may be while you are all young; but what would you say to me if I let you all grow up without a proper education? However, I must not trouble your young head about these things; but I must confess that I do sometimes feel very weary of my work,' he added with a sigh.

And Effie looked at her father, and saw that his face was thin and drawn, and that his hair was a great deal whiter than it used to be, and she said,

'But I cannot help troubling about it, papa; and I shall keep on teasing you till you leave this noisy London and come and live quietly with us; so you know what you have to expect. It's hardly any good having a papa if he is always away.'

'No more it is, Effie. I often think the same,' replied Dr. Bradley, as he lighted a cigar.

'But there was something else I wanted to ask you about now,' said Effie, after a little silence. 'When is Clement to have the operation? Is Mr. Spence coming to the Folly to do it?'

'No, dear.'

'Then will poor Clem have to come up to town again?'

'No, Effie. I do not think there will be any operation.'

No operation!' exclaimed Effie. 'Oh, papa! Why, I thought Clem was brought to London on purpose? Mr. Spence said that was his only chance.'

'He thought so at first; but he has altered his opinion now, Effie,' replied Dr. Bradley.

'Then do they think Clem will get better without having anything done to his eyes at all?' asked Effie. 'They think he will get better,' replied her father slowly, and turning his head away.

'But I don't mean only get stronger. I mean will he see again?' urged Effie. Oh, papa, why don't you answer me? You are keeping something back. I am sure you are.'

But still Dr. Bradley turned his head away, and How could he answer her? How

shaded his eyes.

was he to tell her the dreadful truth?

Effie drew his hand away from his forehead, and looked him straight in the face.

'You must tell me what it is, papa,' she said imploringly. 'You cannot keep a secret from me.' Then her father took her hand in his, and, looking at her very gravely, said,—

'Effie, do you think you are strong and brave enough to bear the truth? I did not mean to tell you like this, I meant it to come gradually upon you; but now you must know, and perhaps it is better.'

'What is it, papa?' gasped she, turning very pale. 'That there will be no operation, because there is no hope, my child; it would be only torturing your brother for no good; he can never see again!'

'Never see again, papa! never see again!' cried Effie; 'oh, my poor Clem, it is too dreadful; I cannot, cannot bear it!' And she began to sob violently.

Hush, hush,' said her father, trying to soothe her; 'I thought my Effie was a brave girl, and would submit to God's will, whatever it might be.'

'Oh, not this, anything but this!' sobbed Effie; 'poor dear little Clem, who has always been so ill, and borne so much pain. Oh, papa, how can you be so calm about it? Are you quite sure?'

'I am afraid so, my darling; but I don't think Clement will suffer any more pain; and you know his health is so much better than it used to be, that I hope in time he will grow quite strong, and perhaps happier than he was before.'