er, and an inventor; and now, instead of succumbing
tamely to his disorder, he is working double tides, and inventing with
all his might, in order to remove an obstacle between him and one he
loves with all his manly soul. A contest so noble and so perpetual
sustains and fortifies the mind. He is indomitable; only, at times, his
heart of steel will soften, and then he has fits of deep dejection
and depression, which I mourn to see; for his manly virtues, and his
likeness to one I loved deeply in my youth, have made him dear to me."

During this Grace turned her head away, and, ere the doctor ended, her
tears were flowing freely; for to her, being a woman, this portrait of a
male struggle with sorrow was far more touching than any description
of feminine and unresisted grief could be: and, when the doctor said he
loved his patient, she stole her little hand into his in a way to melt
Old Nick, if he is a male. Ladies, forgive the unchivalrous doubt.

"Doctor," said she, affecting all of a sudden a little air of small
sprightliness, very small, "now, do--you--think--it would do your
patient--the least good in the world--if you were to take him this?"

She handed him her work, and then she blushed divinely.

"Why, it is a figure of Hope."

"Yes."

"I think it might do him a great deal of good."

"You could say I painted it for him."

"So I will. That will do him no harm neither. Shall I say I found you
crying over it?"

"Oh, no! no! That would make him cry too, perhaps."

"Ah, I forgot that. Grace, you are an angel."

"Ah, no. But you can tell him I am--if you think so. That will do him no
great harm--will it?"

"Not an atom to him; but it will subject me to a pinch for stale news.
There, give me my patient's picture, and let me go."

She kissed the little picture half-furtively, and gave it him, and let
him go; only, as he went out at the door, she murmured, "Come often."

Now, when this artful doctor got outside the door, his face became grave
all of a sudden, for he had seen enough to give him a degree of anxiety
he had not betrayed to his interesting patient herself.

"Well, doctor?" said Mr. Carden, affecting more cheerfulness than he
felt. "Nothing there beyond your skill, I suppose?"

"Her health is declining rapidly. Pale, hollow-eyed, listless,
languid--not the same girl."

"Is it bodily do you think, or only mental?"

"Mental as to its cause; but bodily in the result. The two things
are conne