of your promise, when you
fixed to go out and char."

"I thought of earning money."

"Earning money would not make us happy. We have enough, with care and
management. If you were to have made us happy, you should have been at
home, with a bright face, ready to welcome us; don't you think so, dear
Bessy?"

"I did not want the money for home. I wanted to make mother a present of
such a pretty thing!"

"Poor mother! I am afraid we must send for her home now. And she has
only been three days at Southport!"

"Oh!" said Bessy, startled by this notion of Jem's; "don't, don't send
for mother. The doctor did say so much about her going to Southport
being the only thing for her, and I did so try to get her an order! It
will kill her, Jem! indeed it will; you don't know how weak and
frightened she is,--oh, Jem, Jem!"

Jem felt the truth of what his sister was saying. At last, he resolved
to leave the matter for the doctor to decide, as he had attended his
mother, and now knew exactly how much danger there was about Mary. He
proposed to Bessy that they should go and relieve the kind neighbour who
had charge of Mary.

"But you won't send for mother," pleaded Bessy; "if it's the best thing
for Mary, I'll wash up her things to-night, all ready for her to go
into the infirmary. I won't think of myself, Jem."

"Well! I must speak to the doctor," said Jem. "I must not try and fix
any way just because we wish it, but because it is right."

All night long, Bessy washed and ironed, and yet was always ready to
attend to Mary when Jem called her. She took Jenny's scalded hand in
charge as well, and bathed it with the lotion the doctor sent; and all
was done so meekly and patiently that even Tom was struck with it, and
admired the change. The doctor came very early. He had prepared
everything for Mary's admission into the infirmary. And Jem consulted
him about sending for his mother home. Bessy sat trembling, awaiting his
answer.

"I am very unwilling to sanction any concealment. And yet, as you say,
your mother is in a very delicate state. It might do her serious harm
if she had any shock. Well! suppose for this once, I take it on myself.
If Mary goes on as I hope, why--well! well! we'll see. Mind that your
mother is told all when she comes home. And if our poor Mary grows
worse--but I'm not afraid of that, with infirmary care and nursing--but
if she does, I'll write to your mother myself, and arrange with a kind
friend I have