restless than common. One of the women of
the house came in to help to take care of her; but she showed an aversion
to her presence.

"Send me Helen Darley," she said, at last.

The old Doctor told them, that, if possible, they must indulge this fancy
of hers. The caprices of sick people were never to be despised, least of
all of such persons as Elsie, when rendered irritable and exacting by
pain and weakness.

So a message was sent to Mr. Silas Peckham at the Apollinean Institute,
to know if he could not spare Miss Helen Darley for a few days, if
required, to give her attention to a young lady who attended his school
and who was now lying ill,--no other person than the daughter of Dudley
Venner.

A mean man never agrees to anything without deliberately turning it over,
so that he may see its dirty side, and, if he can, sweating the coin he
pays for it. If an archangel should offer to save his soul for sixpence,
he would try to find a sixpence with a hole in it. A gentleman says yes
to a great many things without stopping to think: a shabby fellow is
known by his caution in answering questions, for fear of, compromising
his pocket or himself.

Mr. Silas Peckham looked very grave at the request. The dooties of Miss
Darley at the Institoot were important, very important. He paid her
large sums of money for her time,--more than she could expect to get in
any other institootion for the edoocation of female youth. A deduction
from her selary would be necessary, in case she should retire from the
sphere of her dooties for a season. He should be put to extry expense,
and have to perform additional labors himself. He would consider of the
matter. If any arrangement could be made, he would send word to Squire
Venner's folks.

"Miss Darley," said Silas Peckham, "the' 's a message from Squire
Venner's that his daughter wants you down at the mansion-house to see
her. She's got a fever, so they inform me. If it's any kind of ketchin'
fever, of course you won't think of goin' near the mansion-house. If
Doctor Kittredge says it's safe, perfec'ly safe, I can't object to your
goin', on sech conditions as seem to be fair to all' concerned. You will
give up your pay for the whole time you are absent,--portions of days to
be caounted as whole days. You will be charged with board the same as if
you eat your victuals with the household. The victuals are of no use
after they're cooked but to be eat, and your bein' away