thing; you took to it as a schoolboy. I have known many such men, with
high animal spirits like yours. Such men err thoughtlessly; but did they
ever sin consciously, they could not keep those high spirits! Good
night, Mr. Chapman, I shall hear from you again."

The door closed on the form of the visitor; Waife's head sank on his
breast, and all the deep lines upon brow and cheek stood forth, records
of mighty griefs revived,--a countenance so altered, now its innocent
arch play was gone, that you would not have known it. At length he rose
very quietly, took up the candle, and stole into Sophy's room. Shading
the light with careful hand, he looked on her face as she slept. The
smile was still upon the parted lip: the child was still in the fairyland
of dreams. But the cheek was thinner than it had been weeks ago, and the
little hand that rested on the coverlet seemed wasted. Waife took that
hand noiselessly into his own! it was hot and dry. He dropped it with a
look of unutterable fear and anguish, and, shaking his head piteously;
stole back again. Seating himself by the table at which he had been
caught counting his gains, he folded his arms, and rooted his gaze on the
floor; and there, motionless, and as if in stupefied suspense of thought
itself, he sat till the dawn crept over the sky,--till the sun shone into
the windows. The dog, crouched at his feet, sometimes started up and
whined as to attract his notice: he did not heed it. The clock struck
six; the house began to stir. The chambermaid came into the room. Waife
rose and took his hat, brushing its nap mechanically with his sleeve.
"Who did you say was the best here?" he asked with a vacant smile,
touching the chambermaid's arm.

"Sir! the best--what?"

"The best doctor, ma'am; none of your parish apothecaries,--the best