been most
despotically rusticating a youth who turns out to be your son."

"My son! is there any thing the matter with my son? Oh, Dr. Amboyne!"

"He must have been out of sorts, you know, or he would not have
consulted me," replied the doctor, affecting candor.

"Consult! Why, what has happened? He was quite well when he left me this
morning."

"I doubt that. He complained of headache and fever. But I soon found his
MIND was worried. A misunderstanding with the trades! I was very much
pleased with his face and manner; my carriage was at the door; his pulse
was high, but there was nothing that country air and quiet will not
restore. So I just drove him away, and landed him in a farm-house."

Mrs. Little's brow flushed at this. She was angry. But, in a nature so
gentle as hers, anger soon gave way. She turned a glance of tearful
and eloquent reproach on Dr. Amboyne. "The first time we have ever been
separated since he was born," said she, with a sigh.

Dr. Amboyne's preconceived plan broke down that moment. He said,
hurriedly,

"Take my carriage, and drive to him. Better do that than torment
yourself."

"Where is he?" asked the widow, brightening up at the proposal.

"At Cairnhope."

At this word, Mrs. Little's face betrayed a series of emotions: first
confusion, then astonishment, and at last a sort of superstitious alarm.
"At Cairnhope?" she faltered at last, "My son at Cairnhope?"

"Pray do not torment yourself with fancies," said the doctor. "All this
is the merest accident--the simplest thing in the world. I cured Patty
Dence of diphtheria, when it decimated the village. She and her family
are grateful; the air of Cairnhope has a magic effect on people who live
in smoke, and Martha and Jael let me send them out an invalid now and
then to be reinvigorated. I took this young man there, not knowing who
he was. Go to him, if you like. But, frankly, as his physician, I would
rather you did not. Never do a wise thing by halves. He ought to be
entirely separated from all his cares, even from yourself (who are
doubtless one of them), for five or six days. He needs no other medicine
but that and the fine air of Cairnhope."

"Then somebody must see him every day, and tell me. Oh! Dr. Amboyne,
this is the beginning: what will the end be? I am miserable."

"My man shall ride there every day, and see him, and bring you back a
letter from him."

"Your man!" said Mrs. Little, a little haughtily.

Dr. Amboyne me