nursing, and company, and the
kindness of the neighbors (who jealously rushed in as soon as a stranger
led the way), and the sickening of Tommy with the measles--which he had
caught in the coal-cellar--she began to be started in a different plane
of life; to contemplate the past as a golden age (enshrining a diamond
statue of a revenue officer in full uniform), and to look upon the
present as a period of steel, when a keen edge must be kept against the
world, for a defense of all the little seed of diamonds.

Now the weather was milder, as it generally is at Christmas time, and
the snow all gone, and the wind blowing off the land again, to the great
satisfaction of both cod and conger. The cottage, which had looked such
a den of cold and famine, with the blinds drawn down, and the snow piled
up against the door, and not a single child-nose against the glass, was
now quite warm again, and almost as lively as if Lieutenant Carroway
were coming home to dinner. The heart of Mr. Mordacks glowed with
pride as he said to himself that he had done all this; and the glow was
reflected on the cheeks of Geraldine, as she ran out to kiss him, and
then jumped upon his shoulder. For, in spite of his rigid aspect and
stern nose, the little lass had taken kindly to him; while he admired
her for eating candles.

"If you please, you can come in here," said Jerry. "Oh, don't knock my
head against the door."

Mrs. Carroway knew what he was come for; and although she had tried
to prepare herself for it, she could not help trembling a little. The
factor had begged her to have some friend present, to encourage and help
her in so grievous an affair; but she would not hear of it, and said she
had no friend.

Mr. Mordacks sat down, as he was told to do, in the little room sacred
to the poor lieutenant, and faithful even yet to the pious memory of his
pipe. When the children were shut out, he began to look around, that the
lady might have time to cry. But she only found occasion for a little
dry sob.

"It is horrible, very, very horrible," she murmured, with a shudder, as
her eyes were following his; "but for his sake I endure it."

"A most sad and bitter trial, ma'am, as ever I have heard of. But you
are bound to bear in mind that he is looking down on you."

"I could not put up with it, without the sense of that, sir. But I say
to myself how much he loved it; and that makes me put up with it."

"I am quite at a loss to understand you, m