remember seeing one of the daughters at the party
where I met Miss Moldwarp.

MR. A. So this is the society into which we have allowed our poor
child to run! I blame myself exceedingly for not having made more
inquiries. Grief made me selfishly passive, or I should have opened
my eyes and theirs to the danger. My poor Mary, what a shock it
will be to her!

PROF. D. Was not she on the spot?

MR. A. True; but, poor dear, she is of a gentle nature, easily led,
and seeing only what her affection lets her perceive. And now, she
is not strong.

PROF. D. She is not looking well.

MR. A. You think so! I wonder whether I have been blind, and let
her undertake too much.

PROF. D. Suppose you were to bring her to town for a few days. We
should be delighted to have you, and she could see the doctor to
whom she is accustomed. Then you can judge for yourself about her
daughter.

MR. A. Thank you, Dunlop! It will be a great comfort if it can be
managed.

VIII. AUNT AND NIECE

SCENE.--IN A HANSOM CAB. MRS. HOLLAND AND CECILIA.

MRS. H. I wanted to speak to you, Cissy.

C. I thought so!

MRS. H. What do you think of your mother?

C. Poor old darling. They have been worrying her till she has got
hipped and nervous about herself.

MRS. H. Do you know what spasms she has been having?

C. Oh! mother has had spasms as long as I can remember; and the
more she thinks of them the worse they are. I have often heard her
say so.

MRS. H. Yes; she has gone on much too long overworking herself, and
not letting your grandfather suspect anything amiss.

C. Nerves. That is what it always is.

MRS. H. Dr. Brownlow says there is failure of heart, not dangerous
or advanced at present, but that there is an overstrain of all the
powers, and that unless she keeps fairly quiet, and free from hurry
and worry, there may be very serious, if not fatal attacks.

C. I never did think much of Dr. Brownlow. He told me my
palpitations were nothing but indigestion, and I am sure they were
not!

MRS. H. Well, Cissy, something must be done to relieve your mother
of some of her burthens.

C. I see what you are driving at, Aunt Phrasie; but I cannot go
back till I have finished these courses. There's my picture,
there's the cookery school, the ambulance lectures, and our
sketching tour in August. Ever so many engagements. I shall be
free in the autumn, and then I will go down and see about it. I
told