he is up in the spare room trying to catch up with her sleep. We
told her there was no use in setting up with Huldy, but she said she had
her orders from the doctor, and she wouldn't mind a single thing we
said. But we will get rid on her to-morrow. Now you go right up,
'Zekiel;" and Mrs. Mason took him by the arm and saw him on his way up
the front stairs before she returned to her work in the kitchen.

'Zekiel went upstairs deliberately, one step at a time. His footfalls,
it seemed to him, must be heard all over the house. He paused before
Huldy's door. He opened it a couple of inches, when the thought struck
him that he ought to knock. He started to close the door and do so, when
he heard a faint voice say, "Come in, 'Zekiel." So he was still 'Zekiel
to Huldy. He opened the door and walked bravely into the room, but his
bravery forsook him when he had taken a few steps. He had expected to
find her in bed, as she had been every day before when he had called.
But there she stood before him, the same Huldy as of old. Not exactly
the same, however, for her cheeks had lost much of their rosy tint and
there was a pensive look to the face that was new to it, which 'Zekiel
saw, but could not understand.

There were two chairs close together before the fire. She sat down in
the left-hand one and motioned 'Zekiel to the other, which he took.

"I thought I would find you abed," said 'Zekiel. "I didn't know you were
up."

"Oh, yes," said Huldy. "I got up and dressed as soon as the doctor took
the jacket, that's what he called it, off my arm. I felt so much better
I couldn't stay in bed any longer."

"Well," said 'Zekiel, "when the schoolmaster used to tell me to take my
jacket off I didn't feel near as well as I did before," and then they
both laughed heartily.

They sat silent for a few moments, when Huldy, turning her face with
that sad look towards him, said, "There is something on my mind,
'Zekiel, that I wish I could take off as easily as the doctor did that
jacket."

"Oh, nonsense," cried 'Zekiel; "why should you have anything on your
mind? You are a little bit low spirited because you have been cooped up
in bed so long."

"No," said Huldy, "that isn't it. I have wronged a person and I am
afraid that person will never fully forgive me. I am real sorry for what
I have done, and I am going to tell the person and ask for pardon."

"Well," said 'Zekiel, "the person must be pretty mean spirited if he or
she don't for