child, but was prevented by a customer. She is better, I hope?"

"Oh, yes, much better, thank you."

"What was the matter?" inquired Ellis.

"She is teething, and was thrown into convulsions."

"Ah! yes. Well, I never was so startled in my life as by the
appearance of Mrs. Wilkinson. And the child is better?"

"When I came away this morning, I left her sleeping calmly and
sweetly; and, what is more, the points of two teeth had made their
way through the red and swollen gums."

"All right, then. But how is Mary?"

"Not very well, of course. How could she be, after such a night of
anxiety and alarm? The fact is, Harry, I was to blame for having
left her alone during the evening, knowing, as I did, that Ella was
not very well."

Ellis shrugged his shoulders, as he replied--"Not much excuse for
you, I must admit. I only wish the attraction at my home was as
strong as it is at yours: Parker's would not see me often. As for
you, my old friend, if I speak what I think, I must say that your
inclination to go out in the evening needs correcting. I spend most
of my evenings from home, because home is made unpleasant; you leave
your wife, because a love of conviviality and gay company entices
you away. Such company I know to be dangerous, and especially so for