ordered it to be put down, and it was getting on so well that the
doctor might have smelled it if he had tried; perhaps he did.

"You may then," said the doctor, rising gravely, "give her a glass of
hot mulled port-wine, if she likes wine------"

"And a piece of toast, sir?" suggested the landlady.

"Ay," said the doctor, in a very dignified tone, "And a toast--of bread.
But be very particular to make it of bread, if you please, ma'am."

With which parting advice, slowly and solemnly given, the doctor
departed, leaving the whole house in admiration of that wisdom which
agreed so closely with their own. Everybody said he was a very shrewd
doctor indeed, and knew perfectly what people's bodies needed; which
there appears some reason to suppose he did.

While her supper was preparing, the child fell into a refreshing sleep,
from which they were obliged to rouse her when it was ready. As she
showed extraordinary uneasiness on learning that her grandfather was
below stairs, and as she was greatly troubled at the thought of their
being apart, he took his supper with her. Finding her still very anxious
for the old man, they made him up a bed in an inner room, to which he
soon went. The key of this room happened by good-fortune to be on that
side of the door which was in Nell's room; she turned it on him when the
landlady had withdrawn, and crept to bed again with a thankful heart.

The schoolmaster sat for a long time smoking his pipe by the kitchen
fire, which was now deserted, thinking, with a very happy face, on the
fortunate chance which had brought him at just the right moment to the
child's assistance.

The schoolmaster, as it appeared, was on his way to a new home. And
when the child had recovered somewhat from her hunger and weariness, it
was arranged that she and her grandfather should go with him to the
village whither he was bound, and that he should endeavor to find them
some work by which they could get their living.

It was a lonely little village, lying among the quiet country scenes
Nell loved. And here, her grandfather being peaceful and at rest, a
great calm fell upon the spirit of the child. Often she would steal into
the church, and, sitting down among the quiet figures carved upon the
tombs, would think of the summer days and the bright spring-time that
would come; of the rays of sun that would fall in, aslant those sleeping
forms; of the songs of birds, and the sweet air that would steal in.
What