Now everyone who has looked long upon life knows that of all the
maladies, mental or physical, that afflict human nature, "nothing" is
the most common, the most dangerous, and the most incurable! When you
see a person preoccupied, downcast, despondent, and ask him, "What is
the matter?" and he answers, "Nothing," be sure that it is something
great, unutterable, or fatal! Hannah Worth knew this by instinct, and so
she answered:

"Nonsense, Nora! I know there is something that keeps you awake; what is
it now?"

"Really--and indeed it is nothing serious; only I am thinking over what
we have seen to-day!"

"Oh! but try to go to sleep now, my dear," said Hannah, as if satisfied.

"I can't; but, Hannah, I say, are you and Reuben Gray engaged?"

"Yes, dear."

"How long have you been engaged?"

"For more than twelve years, dear."

"My--good--gracious--me--alive! Twelve years! Why on earth don't you get
married, Hannah?"

"He cannot afford it, dear; it takes everything he can rake and scrape
to keep his mother and his little brothers and sisters, and even with