mn if there is nothing to fear."

WAIFE.--"DO you think so: you have children of your own, sir?--of her
age, too?--Eh! eh!"

MR. HARTOPP.--"Yes; I know all about children,--better, I think, than
Mrs. H. does. What is the complaint?"

WAIFE.--"The doctor says it is low fever."

MR. HARTOPP.--"Caused by nervous excitement, perhaps."

WAIFE (looking up).--"Yes: that's what he says,--nervous excitement."

MR. HARTOPP.--"Clever sensitive children, subjected precociously to
emulation and emotion, are always liable to such maladies. My third
girl, Anna Maria, fell, into a low fever, caused by nervous excitement
in trying for school prizes."

WATFE.--"Did she die of it, sir?"

MR. HARTOPP (shuddering).--"Die! no! I removed her from school, set her
to take care of the poultry, forbade all French exercises, made her take
English exercises instead, and ride on a donkey. She's quite another
thing now, cheeks as red as an apple, and as firm as a cricket-ball."

WAIFE.--"I will keep poultry; I will buy a donkey. Oh, sir! you don't
think she will go to heaven yet, and leave me here?"

MR. HARTOPP.--"Not if you give her rest and quiet. But no excitement, no
exhibitions."

WAIFE (emptying his pockets on the table).--"Will you kindly count that
money, sir? Don't you think that would be enough to find her some
pretty lodgings hereabouts till she gets quite strong again? With
green fields,--she's fond of green fields and a farm-yard with
poultry,--though we were lodging a few days ago with a good woman who
kept hens, and Sophy did not seem to take to them much. A canary bird is
more of a companion, and--"

HARTOPP (interrupting).--"Ay--ay--and you! what would you do?"

WAIFE.--"Why, I and the dog would go away for a little while about the
country."

HARTOPP.--"Exhibiting?"

WAIFE.--"That money will not last forever, and what can we do, I and the
dog, in order to get more for her?"

HARTOPP (pressing his hand warmly).--"You are a good man, sir. I am sure
of it; you cannot have done things which you should be afraid to tell
me. Make me your confidant, and I may then find some employment fit for
you, and you need not separate yourself from your little girl."

WAIFE.--"Separate from her! I should only leave her for a few days at
a time till she gets well. This money would keep her,--how long? Two
months? three? how long? the doctor would not charge much."

HARTOPP.--"YOU will not confide in me then? At your age,--have you