the　aperture　in　the　windpipe；　and　the　action　of　the　lungs
  delicately　aided　by　this　primitive　but　effectual　means。
  He　showed　Phoebe　how　to　do　it；　tore　a　leaf　out　of　his　pocket…book；
  wrote　a　hasty　direction　to　an　able　surgeon　near；　and　sent　his　wife
  off　with　it　in　the　carriage。
  Phoebe　and　he　never　left　the　patient　till　the　surgeon　came　with　all
  the　instruments　required；　amongst　the　rest；　with　a　big；　tortuous
  pair　of　nippers；　with　which　he　could　reach　the　glottis；　and　snip
  it。　　But　they　consulted；　and　thought　it　wiser　to　continue　the　surer
  method；　and　so　a　little　tube　was　neatly　inserted　into　Dick's
  windpipe；　and　his　throat　bandaged；　and　by　this　aperture　he　did　his
  breathing　for　some　little　time。
  Phoebe　nursed　him　like　a　mother；　and　the　terror　and　the　joy　did　her
  good；　and　made　her　less　desolate。
  Dick　was　only　just　well　when　both　of　them　were　summoned　to　the
  farm；　and　arrived　only　just　in　time　to　receive　their　father's
  blessing　and　his　last　sigh。
  Their　elder　brother；　a　married　man；　inherited　the　farm；　and　was
  executor。　　Phoebe　and　Dick　were　left　fifteen　hundred　pounds　apiece；
  on　condition　of　their　leaving　England　and　going　to　Natal。
  They　knew　directly　what　that　meant。　　Phoebe　was　to　be　parted　from　a
  bad　man；　and　Dick　was　to　comfort　her　for　the　loss。
  When　this　part　of　the　will　was　read　to　Phoebe；　she　turned　faint；
  and　only　her　health　and　bodily　vigor　kept　her　from　swooning　right
  away。
  But　she　yielded。　　〃It　is　the　will　of　the　dead；〃　said　she；　〃and　I
  will　obey　it；　for；　oh；　if　I　had　but　listened　to　him　more　when　he
  was　alive　to　advise　me；　I　should　not　sit　here　now；　sick　at　heart
  and　dry…eyed；　when　I　ought　to　be　thinking　only　of　the　good　friend
  that　is　gone。〃
  When　she　had　come　to　this　she　became　feverishly　anxious　to　be　gone。
  She　busied　herself　in　purchasing　agricultural　machines；　and　stores；
  and　even　stock；　and　to　see　her　pinching　the　beasts'　ribs　to　find
  their　condition；　and　parrying　all　attempts　to　cheat　her；　you　would
  never　have　believed　she　could　be　a　love…sick　woman。
  Dick　kept　her　up　to　the　mark。　　He　only　left　her　to　bargain　with　the
  master　of　a　good　vessel；　for　it　was　no　trifle　to　take　out　horses
  and　cows；　and　machines；　and　bales　of　cloth；　cotton；　and　linen。
  When　that　was　settled　they　came　in　to　town　together；　and　Phoebe
  bought　shrewdly；　at　wholesale　houses　in　the　city；　for　cash；　and
  would　have　bargains：　and　the　little　shop　in　…　Street　was　turned
  into　a　warehouse。
  They　were　all　ardor；　as　colonists　should　be；　and　what　pleased　Dick
  most；　she　never　mentioned　Falcon；　yet　he　learned　from　the　maid　that
  worthy　had　been　there　twice；　looking　very　seedy。
  The　day　drew　near。　　Dick　was　in　high　spirits。
  〃We　shall　soon　make　our　fortune　out　there；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　get
  you　a　good　husband。〃
  She　shuddered；　but　said　nothing。
  The　evening　before　they　were　to　sail；　Phoebe　sat　alone；　in　her
  black　dress；　tired　with　work；　and　asking　herself；　sick　at　heart；
  could　she　ever　really　leave　England；　when　the　door　opened　softly；
  and　Reginald　Falcon；　shabbily　dressed；　came　in；　and　threw　himself
  into　a　chair。
  She　started　up　with　a　scream；　then　sank　down　again；　trembling；　and
  turned　her　face　to　the　wall。
  〃So　you　are　going　to　run　away　from　me！〃　said　he　savagely。
  〃Ay；　Reginald；〃　said　she　meekly。
  〃This　is　your　fine　love；　is　it？〃
  〃You　have　worn　it　out；　dear；〃　she　said　softly；　without　turning　her
  head　from　the　wall。
  〃I　wish　I　could　say　as　much；　but；　curse　it；　every　time　I　leave　you
  I　learn　to　love　you　more。　　I　am　never　really　happy　but　when　I　am
  with　you。〃
  〃Bless　you　for　saying　that；　dear。　　I　often　thought　you　MUST　find
  that　out　one　day；　but　you　took　too　long。〃
  〃Oh；　better　late　than　never。　　Phoebe！　　Can　you　have　the　heart　to　go
  to　the　Cape；　and　leave　me　all　alone　in　the　world；　with　nobody　that
  really　cares　for　me？　　Surely　you　are　not　obliged　to　go。〃
  〃Yes；　my　father　left　Dick　and　me　fifteen　hundred　pounds　apiece　to
  go：　that　was　the　condition。　　Poor　Dick　loves　his　unhappy　sister。
  He　won't　go　without　meI　should　be　his　ruinpoor　Dick；　that
  really　loves　me；　and　he　lay　a…dying　here；　and　the　good　doctor　and
  meGod　bless　himwe　brought　him　back　from　the　grave。　　Ah；　you
  little　know　what　I　have　gone　through。　　You　were　not　here。　　Catch
  you　being　near　me　when　I　am　in　trouble。　　There；　I　must　go。　　I　must
  go。　　I　will　go；　if　I　fling　myself　into　the　sea　half　way。〃
  〃And；　if　you　do；　I'll　take　a　dose　of　poison；　for　I　have　thrown　away
  the　truest　heart；　the　sweetest；　most　unselfish；　kindest；　generous
  oh！　oh！　oh！〃
  And　he　began　to　howl。
  This　set　Phoebe　sobbing。　　〃Don't　cry；　dear；〃　she　murmured　through
  her　tears；　〃if　you　have　really　any　love　for　me；　come　with　me。〃
  〃What；　leave　England；　and　go　to　a　desert？〃
  〃Love　can　make　a　desert　a　garden。〃
  〃Phoebe；　I'll　do　anything　else。　　I'll　swear　not　to　leave　your　side。
  I'll　never　look　at　any　other　face　but　yours。　　But　I　can't　live　in
  Africa。〃
  〃I　know　you　can't。　　It　takes　a　little　real　love　to　go　there　with　a
  poor　girl　like　me。　　Ah；　well；　I'd　have　made　you　so　happy。　　We　are
  not　poor　emigrants。　　I　have　a　horse　for　you　to　ride；　and　guns　to
  shoot；　and　me　and　Dick　would　do　all　the　work　for　you。　　But　there
  are　others　here　you　can't　leave　for　me。　　Well；　then；　good…by；　dear。
  In　Africa；　or　here；　I　shall　always　love　you；　and　many　a　salt　tear　I
  shall　shed　for　you　yet；　many　a　one　I　have；　as　well　you　know。　　God
  bless　you。　　Pray　for　poor　Phoebe；　that　goes　against　her　will　to
  Africa；　and　leaves　her　heart　with　thee。〃
  This　was　too　much　even　for　the　selfish　Reginald。　　He　kneeled　at　her
  knees；　and　took　her　hand；　and　kissed　it；　and　actually　shed　a　tear
  or　two　over　it。
  She　could　not　speak。　　He　had　no　hope　of　changing　her　resolution；
  and　presently　he　heard　Dick's　voice　outside；　so　he　got　up　to　avoid
  him。　　〃I'll　come　again　in　the　morning；　before　you　go。〃
  〃Oh；　no！　no！〃　she　gasped。　　〃Unless　you　want　me　to　die　at　your　feet。
  I　am　almost　dead　now。〃
  Reginald　slipped　out　by　the　kitchen。
  Dick　came　in；　and　found　his　sister　leaning　with　her　head　back
  against　the　wall。　　〃Why；　Phoebe；〃　said　he；　〃whatever　is　the
  matter？〃　and　he　took　her　by　the　shoulder。
  She　moaned；　and　he　felt　her　all　limp　and　powerless。
  〃What　is　it；　lass？　　Whatever　is　the　matter？　　Is　it　about　going
  away？〃
  She　would　not　speak　for　a　long　time。
  When　she　did　speak；　it　was　to　say　something　for　which　my　male
  reader　may　not　be　prepared。　　But　it　will　not　surprise　the　women。
  〃O　Dickforgive　me！〃
  〃Why；　what　for？〃
  〃Forgive　me；　or　else　kill　me：　I　don't　care　which。〃
  〃I　do；　though。　　There；　I　forgive　you。　　Now　what's　your　crime？〃
  〃I　can't　go。　　Forgive　me！〃
  〃Can't　go？〃
  〃I　can't。　　Forgive　me！〃
  〃I'm　blessed　if　I　don't　believe　that　vagabond　has　been　here
  tormenting　of　you　again。〃
  〃Oh；　don't　miscall　him。　　He　is　penitent。　　Yes；　Dick；　he　has　been
  here　crying　to　meand　I　can't　leave　him。　　I　can'tI　can't。　　Dear
  Dick！　you　are　young　and　stout…hearted；　take　all　the　things　over；
  and　make　your　fortune　out　there；　and　leave　your　poor　foolish　sister
  behind。　　I　should　only　fling　myself　into　the　salt　sea　if　I　left　him
  now；　and　that　would　be　peace　to　me；　but　a　grief　to　thee。〃
  〃Lordsake；　Phoebe；　don't　talk　so。　　I　can't　go　without　you。　　And　do
  but　think；　why；　the　horses　are　on　board　by　now；　and　all　the　gear。
  It's　my　belief　a　good　hiding　is　all　you　want；　to　bring　you　to　your
  senses；　but　I　han't　the　heart　to　give　you　one；　worse　luck。　　Blessed
  if　I　know　what　to　say　or　do。〃
  〃I　won't　go！〃　cried　Phoebe；　turning　violent　all　of　a　sudden。　　〃No；
  not　if　I　am　dragged　to　the　ship　by　the　hair　of　my　head。　　Forgive
  me！〃　　And　with　that　word　she　was　a　mouse　again。
  〃Eh；　but　women　are　kittle　cattle　to　drive；〃　said　poor　Dick
  ruefully。　　And　down　he　sat　at　a　nonplus；　and　very　unhappy。
  Phoebe　sat　opposite；　sullen；　heart…sick；　wretched　to　the　core；　but
  determined　not　to　leave　Reginald。
  Then　came　an　event　that　might　have　been　foreseen；　yet　it　took　them
  both　by　surprise。
  A　light　step　was　heard；　and　a　graceful；　though　seedy；　figure
  entered　the　room　with　a　set　speech　in　his　mouth：　〃Phoebe；　you　are
  right。　　I　owe　it　to　your　long　and　faithful　affection　to　make　a
  sacrifice　for　you。　　I　will　go　to　Africa　with　you。　　I　will　go　to　the
  end　of　the　world；　sooner　than　you　shall　say　I　care　for　any　woman　on
  earth　but　you。〃
  Both　brother　and　sister　were　so　unprepared　for　this；　that　they
  could　hardly　realize　it　at　first。
  Phoebe　turned　her　great；　inquiring　eyes　on　the　speaker；　and　it　was
  a　sight　to　see　amazement；　doubt；　hope；　and　happiness　animating　her
  features；　one　after　another。
  〃Is　this　real？〃　said　she。
  〃I　will　sail　with　you　to…morrow；　Phoebe；　and　I　will　make　you　a　good
  husband；　if　you　will　have　me。〃
  〃That　is　spoke　like　a　man；〃　said　Dick。　　〃You　take　him　at　his　word；
  Phoebe；　and　if　he　ill…uses　you　out　there；　I'll　break　every　bone　in
  his　skin。〃
  〃How　dare　you　threaten　him？〃　said　Phoebe。　　〃You　had　best　leave　the
  room。〃
  Out　went　poor　Dick；　with　the　tear　in　his　eye　at　being　snubbed　so。
  While　he　was　putting　up　the　shutters；　Phoebe　was　making　love　to　her
  pseudo　penitent。　　〃My　dear；〃　said　she；　〃trust　yourself　to　me。　　You
  don't　know　all　my　love　yet；　for　I　have　never　been　your　wife；　and　I
  would　not　be　your　jade；　that　is　the　only　thing　I　ev