languidly on the
floor, and with difficulty I suppressed the exclamation that rose to my
lips on seeing her. She seemed within the last few days so changed, and
on the aspect of the countenance there was so profound a melancholy!
But as she slowly turned at the sound of our footsteps, and her eyes met
mine, a quick blush came into the wan cheek, and she half rose, but sank
back as if the effort exhausted her. There was a struggle for breath,
and a low hollow cough. Was it possible that I had been mistaken, and
that in that cough was heard the warning knell of the most insidious
enemy to youthful life?

I sat down by her side; I lured her on to talk of indifferent
subjects,--the weather, the gardens, the bird in the cage, which was
placed on the table near her. Her voice, at first low and feeble, became
gradually stronger, and her face lighted up with a child's innocent,
playful smile. No, I had not been mistaken! That was no lymphatic,
nerveless temperament, on which consumption fastens as its lawful prey;
here there was no hectic pulse, no hurried waste of the vital flame.
Quietly and gently I made my observations, addressed my questions,
applied my stethoscope; and when I turned my face towards her mother's
anxious, eager eyes, that face told my opinion; for her mother sprang
forward, clasped my hand, and said, through her struggling tears,--

"You smile! You see nothing to fear?"

"Fear! No, indeed! You will soon be again yourself, Miss Ashleigh, will
you not?"

"Yes," she said, with her sweet laugh, "I shall be well now very soon.
But may I not have the window open; may I not go into the garden? I so
long for fresh air."

"No, no, darling," exclaimed Mrs. Ashleigh, "not while the east winds
last. Dr. Jones said on no account. On no account, Dr. Fenwick, eh?"

"Will you take my arm, Miss Ashleigh, for a few turns up and down
the room?" said I. "We will then see how far we may rebel against Dr.
Jones."

She rose with some little effort, but there was no cough. At first
her step was languid; it became lighter and more elastic after a few
moments.

"Let her come out," said I to Mrs. Ashleigh. "The wind is not in the
east, and, while we are out, pray bid your servant lower to the last bar
in the grate that fire,--only fit for Christmas."

"But--"

"Ah, no buts! He is a poor doctor who is not a stern despot."

So the straw hat and mantle were sent for. Lilian was wrapped with
unnecessary care, and we all we