er novel hastily
aside, when the door opened and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Wharton,
entered, accompanied by two of her little girls, their bright faces
glowing with health and happiness.

"And how are the children?" Mrs. Wharton asked, after the first
salutations were over.

"Why, Lewie does not seem well, he has been complaining for a day or
two."

"And where is Agnes? We rode over to see if you let her go over and
pass the holidays with us."

"Why, to tell the truth, Agnes has been very naughty, and I have been
obliged to shut her up."

"Again!" exclaimed Mrs. Wharton, while glances of indignation shot from
the eyes of her two little girls. "Agnes naughty, and shut up again!
Why, Harriet, do you know she appears to me so perfectly gentle and
lovely, that I can hardly imagine her as doing anything wrong. Mr.
Wharton and I often speak of her as the most faultless child we have
ever met with."

"She is not so bad in other ways, but she does delight to tease Lewie,
and keep him screaming. Now, it has been one incessant scream from the
child all this morning, and Agnes _can_ amuse him very well when she
chooses."

"Judging from all her own pretty things scattered about the floor here,
I should think she had been doing her best to amuse him," said Mrs.
Wharton; "she has even taken down her beautiful work-box, of which she
has always been so careful. You may be sure it was a case of extremity,
which compelled her to do that."

"Why, what a sad litter they have made to be sure; I did not observe it
before. The fact is, Ellen, I have been exceedingly occupied this
morning, and did not know what the children were about, only that Agnes
kept Lewie screaming, and, at last, with the utmost rudeness, for that I
saw myself, she snatched something from his hand, and for that, I
punished her."

"Ah, yes, I see, Harriet," said Mrs. Wharton, glancing at the
yellow-covered publication on the table; "I see how it is, now; you have
been wholly absorbed in one of those wretched novels, and left little
Agnes to take care of a sick, cross baby. That child is very sick,
Harriet; do you see what a burning fever he has?"

"Ellen, do you think so?" said the mother hastily and in great
agitation. "Oh, Ellen, what shall I do; oh, what _shall_ I do! perhaps
my baby, my darling, is going to be very ill."

"Do not agitate yourself so, Harriet, I will send Matthew directly over
to the village for the doctor; but first, may I have Agnes?"