"Poor girl," thought he, "she feels her father's failure very
keenly, not I believe from a selfish view but from her relation to
others."
The young man had not divined aright.
He was not aware that Marguerite was the affianced wife of Hubert
Tracy. He did not know the nature of the blow that had made such
dire havoc upon the constitution of Mr. Verne. He did not know that
all the anxious moments of the latter were spent in vainly trying to
make known the bitter truth. He did not know that within Mr. Verne's
desk was concealed a document which might remain there until too
late!
Mrs. Verne had arrived in a state bordering on distraction.
She did not wish to meet any of her former friends lest she would
hear something that would grate harshly on her nerves. She suffered
much from headache and consequently remained most of the time in her
own apartments.
"If your papa were at all times conscious of our presence, my dear,
there would be some sense in my remaining with him, but really Madge
I think the more quiet he is kept the better."
"But mamma dear, one of us should be near so that with returning
consciousness he would recognize us."
"But that is not very often, Madge.
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