o have him this time.

"A mild feverish attack, I should call it in anybody else; but she has a
peculiar constitution, and I never feel so safe about her as I should
about most people."

"Anything ketchin' about it?" Silas asked, cunningly.

"No, indeed!" said the Doctor,--"catching? no,--what put that into your
head, Mr. Peckham?"

"Well, Doctor," the conscientious Principal answered, "I naterally feel a
graat responsibility, a very graaat responsibility, for the noomerous and
lovely young ladies committed to my charge. It has been a question,
whether one of my assistants should go, accordin' to request, to stop
with Miss Venner for a season. Nothin' restrains my givin' my full and
free consent to her goin' but the fear lest contagious maladies should be
introdooced among those lovely female youth. I shall abide by your
opinion,--I understan' you to say distinc'ly, her complaint is not
ketchin'?--and urge upon Miss Darley to fulfil her dooties to a
sufferin' fellow-creature at any cost to myself and my establishment. We
shall miss her very much; but it is a good cause, and she shall go,--and
I shall trust that Providence will enable us to spare her without
permanent demage to the interests of the Institootion."

Saying this, the excellent Principal departed, with his rusty
narrow-brimmed hat leaning over, as if it had a six-knot breeze abeam,
and its gunwale (so to speak) was dipping into his coat-collar. He
announced the result of his inquiries to Helen, who had received a brief
note in the mean time from a poor relation of Elsie's mother, then at the
mansion-house, informing her of the critical situation of Elsie and of
her urgent desire that Helen should be with her. She could not hesitate.
She blushed as she thought of the comments that might be made; but what
were such considerations in a matter of life and death? She could not
stop to make terms with Silas Peckham. She must go. He might fleece
her, if he would; she would not complain,--not even to Bernard, who, she
knew, would bring the Principal to terms, if she gave the least hint of
his intended extortions.

So Helen made up her bundle of clothes to be sent after her, took a book
or two with her to help her pass the time, and departed for the Dudley
mansion. It was with a great inward effort that she undertook the
sisterly task which was thus forced upon her. She had a kind of terror
of Elsie; and the thought of having charge of her, of being