especially as the little creature still looked very fragile-—even at
the end of a month. She was so tired out with her day of almost
rapturous enjoyment that Mrs. Brownlow would not let her come down
stairs again, but made her go at once to bed, in spite of a feeble
protest against losing one evening.

"And I am afraid that is a recall," said Mrs. Brownlow, seeing a
letter directed to Miss Allen on the side-table. "I will not give it
to her to-night, poor little dear; I really don't know how to send
her back."

"Exactly what I was thinking," said the Doctor, leaning over the
fire, which he was vigorously stirring.

"You don't think her strong enough? If so, I am very glad," said the
mother, in a delighted voice. "Eh, Joe?" as there was a pause; and
as he replaced the poker, he looked up to her with a colour scarcely
to be accounted for by the fire, and she ended in an odd, startled,
yet not displeased tone, "It is that-—is it?"

"Yes, mother, it is that," said Joe, laughing a little, in his relief
that the plunge was made. "I don't see that we could do better for
your happiness or mine."

"Don't put mine first" (half-crying).

"I didn't know I did. It all comes to the same thing."

"My dear Joe, I only wish you could do it to-morrow, and have no fuss
about it! What will Robert do?"