nurse to wait upon her.

"And you never saw such kindness and compassion, Miss Marian, except in
yourself. I do declare to you, that his manner to that poor unfortunate
is as delicate and reverential and devoted as if she were the most
accomplished and enviable lady in the land, and more so, Miss Marian,
more so!"

"I can well believe it! He looks like that!" said the beautiful girl,
her face flushing and her eyes filling with generous sympathy. But
Marian was rather averse to sentimentality, so dashing the sparkling
drops from her blushing cheeks, she looked up and said: "Miss Nancy, we
are going to have chickens for dinner. How do you like them cooked? It
don't matter a bit to Edith and me."

"Stewed, then, if you please, Miss Marian! or stop--no--I think baked in
a pie!"




CHAPTER VIII

THE FOREST FAIRY.


On the afternoon of the same day spent by Miss Nancy Skamp at Old Field
Cottage, the family at Luckenough were assembled in that broad, central
passage, their favorite resort in warm weather.