on. She was never peevish, but always sad and listless. By this means she did not anger her parent,

choly undermined the old gentle

ing her full share of the senseless mirth. She pulled up short at sight of him, and colored high; but it was t

ey were alone, and told her he was gla

ve not forgotten your last words to HIM. We were to hide our broken hearts from the world. I try to obey you, dear papa

y, you'd turn it out of window. You are

elpless sigh, as who would say, "Hit me, papa: I have no friend now." So then he was sorry he had be

ase a practice in London, and his ill-success. The letter spoke the language of love and hope; but the

ied over it before her father, to en

his, something occurre

o atone to her father for having disturbed his cheerfulness. She smiled affectio

and said to himself, "She is

ry, she was farthe

et Mr. Wyman coming out of the villa. Mr. W

said Mr. Lusignan.

is Miss

is the matt

thing very alarming. Wou

hy

uested me not to tell

t upon your

r, as her father. Well, she is troub

le. "My child! spittin

yourself. It is

ther. "It is always serious.

ime, he inquired how often it h

as well tell you at once: I have examined her ca

e throat

derangement: not that there is any lesion; only a tendency to conges

sician hereabouts?" as

ell, I

e his a

tation." He added, with vast but rather sudden alacri

him be here to-morrow morning; if not, I s

t at once to his daughter. "O my child!" said he, d

the girl, looking the pi

ve been spit

that?" said

e is atte

"Chatterbox! He promise

you trust this terrible thing to a stran

plied Ros

ly, "I see how it is: because I will not let you marry

ow, it was because I did not want you to be distressed. I thought I might get better with a little physic; and, if not, why, then I th

hardly consistent with her superficial character. He could not help saying,

you told him so." (Young cats will scratch when least expected.) "And for me to go and tell him I am in danger! Why, he would go wild. He would think of nothing but me and my health. He would never make his fortune: and so then, even when I am gone, he

ed, she wanted to cry; it almost choked her not to. But she fought it bravely

her. She ran her footstool to hi

utiful daughter ever since you-but now I will. Kiss m

t the one that now filled his parental heart, and

n a carriage and pair. He was intercepted in the hall by Wyman,

toms as he had gathered them from his daughter; but Dr. Snell interrupted him politely, and said he had heard the pri

led the way, and was about to enter the room, when Wyman informed h

e propriety of that. But oblige me by as

for, to receive a hint from a la

by a busy doctor: he felt her pulse, looked at her tongue, and listened attentively to her lungs, to her heart, an

ous father, who came with throbbing h

ntil the consultation had taken place; the resul

ltation? The grounds on which two able men agr

," with a superior smile, "my de

gnan. But he muttered, "So

to his study, miserable, and gave u

on rejo

tell you that Dr. Snell agrees with me, entirely: the lungs ar

Snell?" asked Lus

e treatment has been submitted

t the case had no extraordinary feature, whatever; he was not to alarm himself. Dr. Snel

eveal an extraord

eatment wa

l's was

e seen, entirely appr

Antarctic poles are not farther apart than was his pre

iversity of practice did not interfe

alled on every friend he had, to inquire where there was an opening. He walked miles and miles in the best quarters of London, looking for an opening;

uld hear

table old bachelor, who had assisted most of his married relatives; but, finding no bottom to the well, had turned rusty and crusty, and now was apt to administer kicks instead of checks to all who were near and d

ymen, who come to say, 'Stand and deliver;' and now even you want to join the giddy throng. Well, don't ask me to have any hand in it. You are a man of promise; and you might as well hang a millstone round your neck as a wife. Marriage is a greater mistake than ever now; the women dress more and manage worse. I met your cou

no short cut in that profession. He must be content to play the up-hill game; must settle in some good neighborhood; marry, if possible,

as very unhappy; and after some days of misery, he wrote a let

low; and a slight circle showed itself under her eyes. These symptoms were unfavorable; nevertheless, Dr. Snell and Mr. Wyman accepted them cheerfully, as fresh indications that nothing was affec

of herself. One evening in particular she stood before the glass in the drawing-room, and looke

sleep; and so indeed he had been; but he was just awaking, and heard his daughter u

poke out. "Send for a great physician, papa. Don't

an to get a physici

you, not to see what a cheat that consultation was. Why, from what you told me, one can see it was managed so that Dr. Snell could not

es! he is

won't care how many doctors he contradicts when I

"How confident you look! your color has co

e at his lodgings in Gravesend.

-night. It is only a mile

ve lived long enough to be loved. Yes, dear papa, save

er for his night walk, and Rosa leaned back, and

ter was brought her, and this was the letter

een she had been crying, and she started at the handwriting; it seemed

are filled, but our hearts chilled or soured; or else to marry at once, and climb the hill together. If you love me as I love you, you will be saving till the battle is over; and I feel I could find energy and fortitude for both. Your father, who thinks so much of wealth, can surely settle something on YOU; and I am not too poor to furnish a house and start fair. I am not quite obscure-my lectures have given me a name-and

re. All this time the world to me has seemed to want the

let me look at yo

you, though but for a moment, and let me hear my fate fr

OPHER

be sorry she had not told him. "Poor thing!" she said to herself, "he little knows that now all is changed. Papa, I sometime

s him. No; perhaps catch him waiting for her. What would he think?

bell hard. Th

is instant. Oh, and as

This was for Harriet to take out to him. Anything better

rst. "If you please, mis

im-the road

, mi

no use. N

, mi

me in. "Did you

-never m

ooking anxiously out, with her hands working. Presently she uttered a little scream and shrank away

te, or walking up and down close by it, his heart now burning with hope,

then he should soon know whether she would come or not. He looked up at the drawing-room windows. They were full o

doubt. His head drooped; and perhaps it was owing to this that he almost ran agai

urprised. Christopher uttered an e

red at e

coming to

ammered Ch

he said politely, "No matter, it is

uefully, puzzled more and more, but beginning t

n one moment he saw Rosa at

this? The old man did not seem angry. Christopher's heart gave a leap inside him,

study, and lighted two candles himsel

er a change in Mr. Lusignan

l, sir," said Ch

our last visit. All that is over. Thank you for loving my poor girl as you do; give me your hand; God b

nd not

it from me, but how could she? For two months she has had some terrible complain

profession, and the experience of dangers overcome, together with a certain sense of power, kep

rmed him

time," said he. "I

ct to my bei

ourse

at Dr. Snell says it

s-after I ha

. He was to get an independ

ent," said he. "The patient must not know how my heart is beating, and she must see nothing in my face but

forced cheerfulness, "Dr. Staines, my dear,

t as we left her. Only h

d to dilate his noble frame. He fixed his eye on that reclining, panting figure, and stepped l