ould like to know who gave you leave to ride yesterday?"

"Father thought that I was well enough, and the carriage was close and
warm. I hope, sir, that I shall not be on your hands much longer."

"What did I tell you? Next time don't be so hard-headed when you are
advised by older and wiser persons. I trust you are quite satisfied with
the result of your eleemosynary performances at the Row."

"Far from it, Doctor. I am fully acclimated now, and have nothing to fear
in future. I am very sorry, sir, that I caused you all so much trouble and
anxiety; I did not believe that I should take the fever. If Philip had not
been so ill, I should have come out safely; but I suppose my uneasiness
about him unnerved me in some way--for, when I saw that he would get well,
all my strength left me in an instant. How is he, sir?"

"Oh! the young dog is as well as ever. Comes to my office every day to ask
after his blessed Lady Bountiful."

Leaning forward carelessly, but so as to command a full view of her face,
he added,--

"You stirred up quite an excitement in town, and introduced me generally to
society. People who never inflicted themselves on me before thought it was
incumbent on them to hang around my door to make inquiries concerning my
fair patient. One night I found even that statue of bronze and steel,
Russell Aubrey, waiting at my office to find out whether you really
intended translation."

A change certainly passed swiftly over her countenance; but it was
inexplicable, indescribable--an anomalous lightening of the eye and
darkening of the brow. Before he could analyse it, her features resumed
their wonted serenity, and he found her voice unfluttered.

"I was not aware that I had so many friends; it is a pleasant discovery,
and almost compensates for the pain of illness. Take care, Doctor! You are
tilting my flowers out of their vase."

"Confound the flowers, Queen! They are always in the way. It is a great
pity there is such Theban-brother affection between your father and Aubrey.
He has an amount of fine feeling hid away under that dark, Jesuitical,
non-committal face of his. He has not forgotten your interest in his
mother, and when I told him that I thought you had determined to take your
departure from this world, he seemed really hurt about it. I always liked
the boy, but I think he is a heretic in politics."

The doctor had scarcely taken his departure when Nellie's turbaned head
showed itself at the door.