A Modern Cinderella or The Little Old Shoe And Other Stories by LOUISA MAY ALCOTT CONTENTS A MODERN CINDERELLA: OR, THE LITTLE OLD SHOE DEBBY'S DEBUT BROTHERS NELLY'S HOSPITAL A MODERN CINDERELLA OR, THE LITTLE OLD SHOE HOW IT WAS LOST Among green New England hills stood an ancient house, many-gabled, mossy-roofed, and quaintly built, but picturesque and pleasant to theeye; for a brook ran babbling through the orchard that encompassed itabout, a garden-plat stretched upward to the whispering birches on theslope, and patriarchal elms stood sentinel upon the lawn, as they hadstood almost a century ago, when the Revolution rolled that way andfound them young. One summer morning, when the air was full of country sounds, of mowersin the meadow, black-birds by the brook, and the low of kine upon thehill-side, the old house wore its cheeriest aspect, and a certainhumble history began. "Nan!" "Yes, Di. " And a head, brown-locked, blue-eyed, soft-featured, looked in at theopen door in answer to the call. "Just bring me the third volume of 'Wilhelm Meister, ' there's a dear. It's hardly worth while to rouse such a restless ghost as I, when I'monce fairly laid. " As she spoke, Di PUlled up her black braids, thumped the pillow of thecouch where she was lying, and with eager eyes went down the last pageof her book. "Nan!" "Yes, Laura, " replied the girl, coming back with the third volume forthe literary cormorant, who took it with a nod, still too content uponthe "Confessions of a Fair Saint" to remember the failings of a certainplain sinner. "Don't forget the Italian cream for dinner. I depend upon it; for it'sthe only thing fit for me this hot weather. " And Laura, the cool blonde, disposed the folds of her white gown moregracefully about her, and touched up the eyebrow of the Minerva she wasdrawing. "Little daughter!" "Yes, father. " "Let me have plenty of clean collars in my bag, for I must go at once;and some of you bring me a glass of cider in about an hour;--I shall bein the lower garden. " The old man went away into his imaginary paradise, and Nan into thatdomestic purgatory on a summer day, --the kitchen. There were vinesabout the windows, sunshine on the floor, and order everywhere; but itwas haunted by a cooking-stove, that family altar whence such variedincense rises to appease the appetite of household gods, before whichsuch dire incantations are pronounced to ease the wrath and woe of thepriestess of the fire, and about which often linger saddest memories ofwasted temper, time, and toil. Nan was tired, having risen with the birds, --hurried, having many caresthose happy little housewives never know, --and disappointed in a hopethat hourly "dwindled, peaked, and pined. " She was too young to makethe anxious lines upon her forehead seem at home there, too patient tobe burdened with the labor others should have shared, too light ofheart to be pent up when earth and sky were keeping a blithe holiday. But she was one of that meek sisterhood who, thinking humbly ofthemselves, believe they are honored by being spent in the service ofless conscientious souls, whose careless thanks seem quite rewardenough. To and fro she went, silent and diligent, giving the grace ofwillingness to every humble or distasteful task the day had broughther; but some malignant sprite seemed to have taken possession of herkingdom, for rebellion broke out everywhere. The kettles would boilover most obstreperously, --the mutton refused to cook with the meekalacrity to be expected from the nature of a sheep, --the stove, withunnecessary warmth of temper, would glow like a fiery furnace, --theirons would scorch, --the linens would dry, --and spirits would fail, though patience never. Nan tugged on, growing hotter and wearier, more hurried and morehopeless, till at last the crisis came; for in one fell moment she toreher gown, burnt her hand, and smutched the collar she was preparing tofinish in the most unexceptionable style. Then, if she had been anervous woman, she would have scolded; being a gentle girl, she only"lifted up her voice and wept. " "Behold, she watereth her linen with salt tears, and bewaileth herselfbecause of much tribulation. But, lo! Help cometh from afar: a strongman bringeth lettuce wherewith to stay her, plucketh berries to comforther withal, and clasheth cymbals that she may dance for joy. " The voice came from the porch, and, with her hope fulfilled, Nan lookedup to greet John Lord, the house-friend, who stood there with a basketon his arm; and as she saw his honest eyes, kind lips, and helpfulhands, the girl thought this plain young man the comeliest, mostwelcome sight she had beheld that day. "How good of you, to come through all this heat, and not to laugh at mydespair!" she said, looking up like a grateful child, as she led him in. "I only obeyed orders, Nan; for a certain dear old lady had a motherlypresentiment that you had got into a domestic whirlpool, and sent me asa sort of life-preserver. So I took the basket of consolation, and cameto fold my feet upon the carpet of contentment in the tent offriendship. " As he spoke, John gave his own gift in his mother's name, and bestowedhimself in the wide window-seat, where morning-glories nodded at him, and the old butternut sent pleasant shadows dancing to and fro. His advent, like that of Orpheus in hades, seemed to soothe allunpropitious powers with a sudden spell. The Fire began to slacken, thekettles began to lull, the meat began to cook, the irons began to cool, the clothes began to behave, the spirits began to rise, and the collarwas finished off with most triumphant success. John watched thechange, and, though a lord of creation, abased himself to takecompassion on the weaker vessel, and was seized with a great desire tolighten the homely tasks that tried her strength of body and soul. Hetook a comprehensive glance about the room; then, extracting a dishfrom he closet, proceeded to imbrue his hands in the strawberries'blood. "Oh, John, you needn't do that; I shall have time when I've turned themeat, made the pudding and done these things. See, I'm getting onfinely now:--you're a judge of such matters; isn't that nice?" As she spoke, Nan offered the polished absurdity for inspection withinnocent pride. "Oh that I were a collar, to sit upon that hand!" sighed John, --adding, argumentatively, "As to the berry question, I might answer it with a gem from Dr. Watts, relative to 'Satan' and idle hands, ' but will merely say, that, as amatter of public safety, you'd better leave me alone; for such is thedestructiveness of my nature, that I shall certainly eat somethinghurtful, break something valuable, or sit upon something crushable, unless you let me concentrate my energies by knocking on these youngfellows' hats, and preparing them for their doom. " Looking at the matter in a charitable light, Nan consented, and wentcheerfully on with her work, wondering how she could have thoughtironing an infliction, and been so ungrateful for the blessings of herlot. "Where's Sally?" asked John, looking vainly for the functionary whousually pervaded that region like a domestic police-woman, a terror tocats, dogs, and men. "She has gone to her cousin's funeral, and won't be back till Monday. There seems to be a great fatality among her relations; for one dies, or comes to grief in some way, about once a month. But I don't blamepoor Sally for wanting to get away from this place now and then. Ithink I could find it in my heart to murder an imaginary friend or two, if I had to stay here long. " And Nan laughed so blithely, it was a pleasure to hear her. "Where's Di?" asked John, seized with a most unmasculine curiosity allat once. "She is in Germany with 'Wilhelm Meister'; but, though 'lost to sight, to memory clear'; for I was just thinking, as I did her things, howclever she is to like all kinds of books that I don't understand atall, and to write things that make me cry with pride and delight. Yes, she's a talented dear, though she hardly knows a needle from a crowbar, and will make herself one great blot some of these days, when the'divine afflatus' descends upon her, I'm afraid. " And Nan rubbed away with sisterly zeal at Di's forlorn hose and inkypocket-handkerchiefs. "Where is Laura?" proceeded the inquisitor. "Well, I might say that she was in Italy; for she is copying some finething of Raphael's or Michael Angelo's, or some great creatures orother; and she looks so picturesque in her pretty gown, sitting beforeher easel, that it's really a sight to behold, and I've peeped two orthree times to see how she gets on. " And Nan bestirred herself to prepare the dish Wherewith her picturesquesister desired to prolong her artistic existence. "Where is your father?" John asked again, checking off each answer witha nod and a little frown. "He is down in the garden, deep in some plan about melons, thebeginning of which seems to consist in stamping the first propositionin Euclid all over the bed, and then poking a few seeds into the middleof each. Why, bless the dear man! I forgot it was time for the cider. Wouldn't you like to take it to him, John? He'd love to consult you;and the lane is so cool, it does one's heart good to look at it. " John glanced from the steamy kitchen to the shadowy path, and answeredwith a sudden assumption of immense industry, -- "I couldn't possibly go, Nan, --I've so much on my hands. You'll haveto do it yourself. 'Mr. Robert of Lincoln' has something for yourprivate ear; and the lane is so cool, it will do one's heart good tosee you in it. Give my regards to your father, and, in the words of'Little Mabel's' mother, with slight variation, -- 'Tell the dear old body This day I cannot run, For the pots are boiling over And the mutton isn't done. '" "I will; but please, John, go in to the girls and be comfortable; for Idon't like to leave you here, " said Nan. "You insinuate that I should pick at the pudding or invade the cream, do you? Ungrateful girl, leave me!" And, with melodramatic sternness, John extinguished her in his broad-brimmed hat, and offered the glasslike a poisoned goblet. Nan took it, and went smiling away. But the lane might have been theDesert of Sahara, for all she knew of it; and she would have passed herfather as unconcernedly as if he had been an apple-tree, had he notcalled out, -- "Stand and deliver, little woman!" She obeyed the venerable highwayman, and followed him to and fro, listening to his plans and directions with a mute attention that quitewon his heart. "That hop-pole is really an ornament now, Nan; this sage-bed needsweeding, --that's good work for you girls; and, now I think of it, you'dbetter water the lettuce in the cool of the evening, after I'm gone. " To all of which remarks Nan gave her assent; the hop-pole took thelikeness of a tall figure she had seen in the porch, the sage-bed, curiously enough, suggested a strawberry ditto, the lettuce vividlyreminded her of certain vegetable productions a basket had brought, andthe bobolink only sung in his cheeriest voice, "Go home, go home! he isthere!" She found John--he having made a free-mason of himself, by assuming herlittle apron--meditating over the partially spread table, lost in amazeat its desolate appearance; one half its proper paraphernalia havingbeen forgotten, and the other half put on awry. Nan laughed till thetears ran over her cheeks, and John was gratified at the efficacy ofhis treatment; for her face had brought a whole harvest of sunshinefrom the garden, and all her cares seemed to have been lost in thewindings of the lane. "Nan, are you in hysterics?" cried Di, appearing, book in hand. "John, you absurd man, what are you doing?" "I'm helpin' the maid of all work, please marm. " And John dropped acurtsy with his limited apron. Di looked ruffled, for the merry words were a covert reproach; and withher usual energy of manner and freedom of speech she tossed "Wilhelm"out of the window, exclaiming, irefully. -- "That's always the way; I'm never where I ought to be, and never thinkof anything till it's too late; but it's all Goethe's fault. What doeshe write books full of smart 'Phillinas' and interesting 'Meisters'for? How can I be expected to remember that Sally's away, and peoplemust eat, when I'm hearing the 'Harper' and little 'Mignon?' John, howdare you come here and do my work, instead of shaking me and telling meto do it myself? Take that toasted child away, and fan her like aChinese mandarin, while I dish up this dreadful dinner. " John and Nan fled like chaff before the wind, while Di, full ofremorseful zeal, charged at the kettles, and wrenched off the potatoes'jackets, as if she were revengefully pulling her own hair. Laura had avague intention of going to assist; but, getting lost among the lightsand shadows of Minerva's helmet, forgot to appear till dinner had beenevoked from chaos and peace was restored. At three o'clock, Di performed the coronation ceremony with herfather's best hat; Laura retied his old-fashioned neckcloth, andarranged his white locks with an eye to saintly effect; Nan appearedwith a beautifully written sermon, and suspicious ink-stains on thefingers that slipped it into his pocket; John attached himself to thebag; and the patriarch was escorted to the door of his tent with thetriumphal procession which usually attended his out-goings andin-comings. Having kissed the female portion of his tribe, he ascendedthe venerable chariot, which received him with audible lamentation, asits rheumatic joints swayed to and fro. "Good-bye, my dears! I shall be back early on Monday morning; so takecare of yourselves, and be sure you all go and hear Mr. Emerboy preachto-morrow. My regards to your mother. John. Come, Solon!" But Solon merely cocked one ear, and remained a fixed fact; for longexperience had induced the philosophic beast to take for his motto theYankee maxim, "Be sure you're right, then go ahead! He knew things werenot right; therefore he did not go ahead. "Oh, by the way, girls, don't forget to pay Tommy Mullein for bringingup the cow: he expects it to-night. And Di, don't sit up tilldaylight, nor let Laura stay out in the dew. Now, I believe I'm off. Come, Solon!" But Solon only cocked the other ear, gently agitated his mortifiedtail, as premonitory symptoms of departure, and never stirred a hoof, being well aware that it always took three "comes" to make a "go. " "Bless me! I've forgotten my spectacles. They are probably shut up inthat volume of Herbert on my table. Very awkward to find myselfwithout them ten miles away. Thank you, John. Don't neglect to waterthe lettuce, Nan, and don't overwork yourself, my little 'Martha. 'Come--" At this juncture Solon suddenly went off, like "Mrs. Gamp, " in a sortof walking swoon, apparently deaf and blind to all mundane matters, except the refreshments awaiting him ten miles away; and the benign oldpastor disappeared, humming "Hebron" to the creaking accompaniment ofthe bulgy chaise. Laura retired to take her siesta; Nan made a small carbonaro of herselfby sharpening her sister's crayons, and Di, as a sort of penance forpast sins, tried her patience over a piece of knitting, in which shesoon originated a somewhat remarkable pattern, by dropping every thirdstitch, and seaming ad libitum. If John bad been a gentlemanlycreature, with refined tastes, he would have elevated his feet and madea nuisance of himself by indulging in a "weed;" but being only anuncultivated youth, with a rustic regard for pure air and womankind ingeneral, he kept his head uppermost, and talked like a man, instead ofsmoking like a chimney. "It will probably be six months before I sit here again, tangling yourthreads and maltreating your needles, Nan. How glad you must feel tohear it!" he said, looking up from a thoughtful examination of thehard-working little citizens of the Industrial Community settled inNan's work-basket. "No, I'm very sorry; for I like to see you coming and going as you usedto, years ago, and I miss you very much when you are gone, John, "answered truthful Nan, whittling away in a sadly wasteful manner, asher thoughts flew back to the happy times when a little lad rode alittle lass in a big wheelbarrow, and never spilt his load, --when twobrown heads bobbed daily side by side to school, and the favorite playwas "Babes in the Wood, " with Di for a somewhat peckish robin to coverthe small martyrs with any vegetable substance that lay at hand. Nansighed, as she thought of these things, and John regarded the batteredthimble on his finger-tip with increased benignity of aspect as heheard the sound. "When are you going to make your fortune, John, and get out of thatdisagreeable hardware concern?" demanded Di, pausing after an exciting"round, " and looking almost as much exhausted as if it had been averitable pugilistic encounter. "I intend to make it by plunging still deeper into 'that disagreeablehardware concern;' for, next year, if the world keeps rolling, and JohnLord is alive, he will become a partner, and then--and then--" The color sprang up into the young man's cheek, his eyes looked outwith a sudden shine, and his hand seemed involuntarily to close, as ifhe saw and seized some invisible delight. "What will happen then, John?" asked Nan, with a wondering glance. "I'll tell you in a year, Nan, wait till then. " and John's strong handunclosed, as if the desired good were not to be his yet. Di looked at him, with a knitting-needle stuck into her hair, saying, like a sarcastic unicorn, -- "I really thought you had a soul above pots and kettles, but I see youhaven't; and I beg your pardon for the injustice I have done you. " Not a whit disturbed, John smiled, as if at some mighty pleasant fancyof his own, as he replied, -- "Thank you, Di; and as a further proof of the utter depravity of mynature, let me tell you that I have the greatest possible respect forthose articles of ironmongery. Some of the happiest hours of my lifehave been spent in their society; some of my pleasantest associationsare connected with them; some of my best lessons have come to me amongthem; and when my fortune is made, I intend to show my gratitude bytaking three flat-irons rampant for my coat of arms. " Nan laughed merrily, as she looked at the burns on her hand; but Dielevated the most prominent feature of her brown countenance, andsighed despondingly, -- "Dear, dear, what a disappointing world this is! I no sooner build anice castle in Spain, and settle a smart young knight therein, thandown it comes about my ears; and the ungrateful youth, who might fightdragons, if he chose, insists on quenching his energies in a saucepan, and making a Saint Lawrence of himself by wasting his life on a seriesof gridirons. Ah, if I were only a man, I would do something betterthan that, and prove that heroes are not all dead yet. But, instead ofthat, I'm only a woman, and must sit rasping my temper with absurditieslike this. " And Di wrestled with her knitting as if it were Fate, andshe were paying off the grudge she owed it. John leaned toward her, saying, with a look that made his plain facehandsome, -- "Di, my father began the world as I begin it, and left it the richerfor the useful years he spent here, --as I hope I may leave it somehalf-century hence. His memory makes that dingy shop a pleasant placeto me; for there he made an honest name, led an honest life andbequeathed to me his reverence for honest work. That is a sort ofhardware, Di, that no rust can corrupt, and which will always prove abetter fortune than any your knights can achieve with sword and shield. I think I am not quite a clod, or quite without some aspirations abovemoney-getting; for I sincerely desire that courage that makes dailylife heroic by self-denial and cheerfulness of heart; I am eager toconquer my own rebellious nature, and earn the confidence of innocentand upright souls; I have a great ambition to become as good a man andleave as good a memory behind me as old John Lord. " Di winked violently, and seamed five times in perfect silence; butquiet Nan had the gift of knowing when to speak, and by a timely wordsaved her sister from a thunder-shower and her stocking fromdestruction. "John, have you seen Philip since you wrote about your last meetingwith him?" The question was for John, but the soothing tone was for Di, whogratefully accepted it, and perked up again with speed. "Yes; and I meant to have told you about it, " answered John, plunginginto the subject at once. "I saw him a few days before I came home, and found him moredisconsolate than ever, --' just ready to go to the Devil, ' as heforcibly expressed himself. I consoled the poor lad as well as I could, telling him his wisest plan was to defer his proposed expedition, andgo on as steadily as he had begun, --thereby proving the injustice ofyour father's prediction concerning his want of perseverance, and thesincerity of his affection. I told him the change in Laura's healthand spirits was silently working in his favor, and that a few moremonths of persistent endeavor would conquer your father's prejudiceagainst him, and make him a stronger man for the trial and the pain. Iread him bits about Laura from your own and Di's letters, and he wentaway at last as patient as Jacob ready to serve another 'seven years'for his beloved Rachel. " "God bless you for it, John!" cried a fervent voice; and, looking up, they saw the cold, listless Laura transformed into a tender girl, allaglow with love and longing, as she dropped her mask, and showed aliving countenance eloquent with the first passion and softened by thefirst grief of her life. John rose involuntarily in the presence of an innocent nature whosesorrow needed no interpreter to him. The girl read sympathy in hisbrotherly regard, and found comfort in the friendly voice that asked, half playfully, half seriously, -- "Shall I tell him that he is not forgotten, even for an Apollo? thatLaura the artist has not conquered Laura the woman? and predict thatthe good daughter will yet prove the happy wife?" With a gesture full of energy, Laura tore her Minerva from top tobottom, while two great tears rolled down the cheeks grown wan withhope deferred. "Tell him I believe all things, hope all things, and that I never canforget. " Nan went to her and held her fast, leaving the prints of two loving butgrimy hands upon her shoulders; Di looked on approvingly, for, thoughstony-hearted regarding the cause, she fully appreciated the effect;and John, turning to the window, received the commendations of a robinswaying on an elm-bough with sunshine on its ruddy breast. The clock struck five, and John declared that he must go; for, being anold-fashioned soul, he fancied that his mother had a better right tohis last hour than any younger woman in the land, --always rememberingthat "she was a widow, and he her only son. " Nan ran away to wash her hands, and came back with the appearance ofone who had washed her face also: and so she had; but there was adifference in the water. "Play I'm your father, girls, and remember that it will be six monthsbefore 'that John' will trouble you again. " With which preface the young man kissed his former playfellows asheartily as the boy had been wont to do, when stern parents banishedhim to distant schools, and three little maids bemoaned his fate. Buttimes were changed now; for Di grew alarmingly rigid during theceremony; Laura received the salute like a graceful queen; and Nanreturned it with heart and eyes and tender lips, making such animprovement on the childish fashion of the thing that John was moved tosupport his paternal character by softly echoing her father'swords, --"Take care of yourself, my little 'Martha. '" Then they all streamed after him along the garden-path, with theendless messages and warnings girls are so prone to give; and the youngman, with a great softness at his heart, went away, as many anotherJohn has gone, feeling better for the companionship of innocentmaidenhood, and stronger to wrestle with temptation, to wait and hopeand work. "Let's throw a shoe after him for luck, as dear old 'Mrs. Gummage' didafter 'David' and the 'willin' Barkis!' Quick, Nan! you always have oldshoes on; toss one, and shout, 'Good luck!'" cried Di, with one of hereccentric inspirations. Nan tore off her shoe, and threw it far along the dusty road, with asudden longing to become that auspicious article of apparel, that theomen might not fail. Looking backward from the hill-top, John answered the meek shoutcheerily, and took in the group with a lingering glance: Laura in theshadow of the elms, Di perched on the fence, and Nan leaning far overthe gate with her hand above her eyes and the sunshine touching herbrown hair with gold. He waved his hat and turned away; but the musicseemed to die out of the blackbird's song, and in all the summerlandscape his eyes saw nothing but the little figure at the gate. "Bless and save us! here's a flock of people coming; my hair is in atoss, and Nan's without her shoe; run! fly, girls! or the Philistineswill be upon us!" cried Di, tumbling off her perch in sudden alarm. Three agitated young ladies, with flying draperies and countenances ofmingled mirth and dismay, might have been seen precipitating themselvesinto a respectable mansion with unbecoming haste; but the squirrelswere the only witnesses of this "vision of sudden flight, " and, beingused to ground-and-lofty tumbling, didn't mind it. When the pedestrians passed, the door was decorously closed, and no onevisible but a young man, who snatched something out of the road, andmarched away again, whistling with more vigor of tone than accuracy oftune, "Only that, and nothing more. " HOW IT WAS FOUND. Summer ripened into autumn, and something fairer than "Sweet-peas and mignonette In Annie's garden grew. " Her nature was the counterpart of the hill-side grove, where as a childshe had read her fairy tales, and now as a woman turned the first pagesof a more wondrous legend still. Lifted above the many-gabled roof, yetnot cut off from the echo of human speech, the little grove seemed agreen sanctuary, fringed about with violets, and full of summer melodyand bloom. Gentle creatures haunted it, and there was none to makeafraid; wood-pigeons cooed and crickets chirped their shrillroundelays, anemones and lady-ferns looked up from the moss that kissedthe wanderer's feet. Warm airs were all afloat, full of vernal odorsfor the grateful sense, silvery birches shimmered like spirits of thewood, larches gave their green tassels to the wind, and pines made airymusic sweet and solemn, as they stood looking heavenward through veilsof summer sunshine or shrouds of wintry snow. Nan never felt alone now in this charmed wood; for when she came intoits precincts, once so full of solitude, all things seemed to wear oneshape, familiar eyes looked at her from the violets in the grass, familiar words sounded in the whisper of the leaves, grew consciousthat an unseen influence filled the air with new delights, and touchedearth and sky with a beauty never seen before. Slowly these Mayflowersbudded in her maiden heart, rosily they bloomed and silently theywaited till some lover of such lowly herbs should catch their fresharoma, should brush away the fallen leaves, and lift them to the sun. Though the eldest of the three, she had long been overtopped by themore aspiring maids. But though she meekly yielded the reins ofgovernment, whenever they chose to drive, they were soon restored toher again; for Di fell into literature, and Laura into love. Thusengrossed, these two forgot many duties which even bluestockings andinamoratos are expected to perform, and slowly all the homely humdrumcares that housewives know became Nan's daily life, and she accepted itwithout a thought of discontent. Noiseless and cheerful as thesunshine, she went to and fro, doing the tasks that mothers do, butwithout a mother's sweet reward, holding fast the numberless slightthreads that bind a household tenderly together, and making each day abeautiful success. Di, being tired of running, riding, climbing, and boating, decided atlast to let her body rest and put her equally active mind through whatclassical collegians term "a course of sprouts. " Having undertaken toread and know everything, she devoted herself to the task with greatenergy, going from Sue to Swedenborg with perfect impartiality, andhaving different authors as children have sundry distempers, beingfractious while they lasted, but all the better for them when onceover. Carlyle appeared like scarlet-fever, and raged violently for atime; for, being anything but a "passive bucket, " Di became propheticwith Mahomet, belligerent with Cromwell, and made the French Revolutiona veritable Reign of Terror to her family. Goethe and Schilleralternated like fever and ague; Mephistopheles became her hero, Joan ofArc her model, and she turned her black eyes red over Egmont andWallenstein. A mild attack of Emerson followed, during which she waslost in a fog, and her sisters rejoiced inwardly when she emergedinforming them that "The Sphinx was drowsy, Her wings were furled. " Poor Di was floundering slowly to her proper place; but she splashed upa good deal of foam by getting out of her depth, and rather exhaustedherself by trying to drink the ocean dry. Laura, after the "midsummer night's dream" that often comes to girls ofseventeen, woke up to find that youth and love were no match for ageand common sense. Philip had been flying about the world like athistle-down for five-and-twenty years, generous-hearted, frank, andkind, but with never an idea of the serious side of life in hishandsome head. Great, therefore, were the wrath and dismay of theenamored thistle-down, when the father of his love mildly objected toseeing her begin the world in a balloon with a very tender but veryinexperienced aeronaut for a guide. "Laura is too young to 'play house' yet, and you are too unstable toassume the part of lord and master, Philip. Go and prove that you haveprudence, patience, energy, and enterprise, and I will give you mygirl, --but not before. I must seem cruel, that I may be truly kind;believe this, and let a little pain lead you to great happiness, orshow you where you would have made a bitter blunder. " The lovers listened, owned the truth of the old man's words, bewailedtheir fate, and yielded, --Laura for love of her father, Philip for loveof her. He went away to build a firm foundation for his castle in theair, and Laura retired into an invisible convent, where she cast offthe world, and regarded her sympathizing sisters through a grate ofsuperior knowledge and unsharable grief. Like a devout nun, sheworshipped "St. Philip, " and firmly believed in his miraculous powers. She fancied that her woes set her apart from common cares, and slowlyfell into a dreamy state, professing no interest in any mundane matter, but the art that first attracted Philip. Crayons, bread-crusts, andgray paper became glorified in Laura's eyes; and her one pleasure wasto sit pale and still before her easel, day after day, filling herportfolios with the faces he had once admired. Her sisters observedthat every Bacchus, Piping Faun, or Dying Gladiator bore some likenessto a comely countenance that heathen god or hero never owned; andseeing this, they privately rejoiced that she had found such solace forher grief. Mrs. Lord's keen eye had read a certain newly written page in her son'sheart, --his first chapter of that romance, begun in paradise, whoseinterest never flags, whose beauty never fades, whose end can nevercome till Love lies dead. With womanly skill she divined the secret, with motherly discretion she counselled patience, and her son acceptedher advice, feeling that, like many a healthful herb, its worth lay inits bitterness. "Love like a man, John, not like a boy, and learn to know yourselfbefore you take a woman's happiness into your keeping. You and Nanhave known each other all your lives; yet, till this last visit, younever thought you loved her more than any other childish friend. It istoo soon to say the words so often spoken hastily, --so hard to berecalled. Go back to your work, dear, for another year; think of Nan inthe light of this new hope: compare her with comelier, gayer girls; andby absence prove the truth of your belief. Then, if distance onlymakes her dearer, if time only strengthens your affection, and no doubtof your own worthiness disturbs you, come back and offer her what anywoman should be glad to take, --my boy's true heart. " John smiled at the motherly pride of her words, but answered with awistful look. "It seems very long to wait, mother. If I could just ask her for aword of hope, I could be very patient then. " "Ah, my dear, better bear one year of impatience now than a lifetime ofregret hereafter. Nan is happy; why disturb her by a word which willbring the tender cares and troubles that come soon enough to suchconscientious creatures as herself? If she loves you, time will proveit; therefore, let the new affection spring and ripen as your earlyfriendship has done, and it will be all the stronger for a summer'sgrowth. Philip was rash, and has to bear his trial now, and Laurashares it with him. Be more generous, John; make your trial, bear yourdoubts alone, and give Nan the happiness without the pain. Promise methis, dear, --promise me to hope and wait. " The young man's eye kindled, and in his heart there rose a betterchivalry, a truer valor, than any Di's knights had ever known. "I'll try, mother, " was all he said; but she was satisfied, for Johnseldom tried in vain. "Oh, girls, how splendid you are! It does my heart good to see myhandsome sisters in their best array, " cried Nan, one mild Octobernight, as she put the last touches to certain airy raiment fashioned byher own skilful hands, and then fell back to survey the grand effect. "Di and Laura were preparing to assist at an event of the season, " andNan, with her own locks fallen on her shoulders, for want of sundrycombs promoted to her sisters' heads and her dress in unwonteddisorder, for lack of the many pins extracted in exciting crises of thetoilet, hovered like an affectionate bee about two very full-blownflowers. "Laura looks like a cool Undine, with the ivy-wreaths in her shininghair; and Di has illuminated herself to such an extent with thosescarlet leaves that I don't know what great creature she resemblesmost, " said Nan, beaming with sisterly admiration. "Like Juno, Zenobia, and Cleopatra simmered into one, with a touch ofXantippe by way of spice. But, to my eye, the finest woman of the threeis the dishevelled young person embracing the bed-post: for she staysat home herself, and gives her time and taste to making homely peoplefine, --which is a waste of good material, and an imposition on thepublic. " As Di spoke, both the fashion-plates looked affectionately at thegray-gowned figure; but, being works of art, they were obliged to niptheir feelings in the bud, and reserve their caresses till theyreturned to common life. "Put on your bonnet, and we'll leave you at Mrs. Lord's on our way. Itwill do you good, Nan; and perhaps there may be news from John, " addedDi, as she bore down upon the door like a man-of-war under full sail. "Or from Philip, " sighed Laura, with a wistful look. Whereupon Nan persuaded herself that her strong inclination to sit downwas owing to want of exercise, and the heaviness of her eyelids a freakof imagination; so, speedily smoothing her ruffled plumage, she randown to tell her father of the new arrangement. "Go, my dear, by all means. I shall be writing; and you will be lonelyif you stay. But I must see my girls; for I caught glimpses of certainsurprising phantoms flitting by the door. " Nan led the way, and the two pyramids revolved before him with therapidity of lay-figures, much to the good man's edification: for withhis fatherly pleasure there was mingled much mild wonderment at theamplitude of array. "Yes, I see my geese are really swans, though there is such a cloudbetween us that I feel a long way off, and hardly know them. But thislittle daughter is always available, always my 'cricket on the hearth. '" As he spoke, her father drew Nan closer, kissed her tranquil face, andsmiled content. "Well, if ever I see picters, I see 'em now, and I declare to goodnessit's as interestin' as playactin', every bit. Miss Di with all themboughs in her head, looks like the Queen of Sheby, when she wenta-visitin' What's-his-name; and if Miss Laura ain't as sweet as alally-barster figger, I should like to know what is. " In her enthusiasm, Sally gambolled about the girls, flourishing hermilk-pan like a modern Miriam about to sound her timbrel for excess ofjoy. Laughing merrily, the two Mont Blancs bestowed themselves in the familyark, Nan hopped up beside Patrick, and Solon, roused from his lawfulslumbers, morosely trundled them away. But, looking backward with alast "Good-night!" Nan saw her father still standing at the door withsmiling countenance, and the moonlight falling like a benediction onhis silver hair. "Betsey shall go up the hill with you, my dear, and here's a basket ofeggs for your father. Give him my love, and be sure you let me knowthe next time he is poorly, " Mrs. Lord said, when her guest rose todepart, after an hour of pleasant chat. But Nan never got the gift; for, to her great dismay, her hostessdropped the basket with a crash, and flew across the room to meet atall shape pausing in the shadow of the door. There was no need to askwho the new-comer was; for, even in his mother's arms, John looked overher shoulder with an eager nod to Nan, who stood among the ruins withnever a sign of weariness in her face, nor the memory of a care at herheart. --for they all went out when John came in. "Now tell us how and why and when you came. Take off your coat, mydear! And here are the old slippers. Why didn't you let us know youwere coming so soon? How have you been? and what makes you so lateto-night? Betsey, you needn't put on your bonnet. And--oh, my dearboy, have you been to supper yet?" Mrs. Lord was a quiet soul, and her flood of questions was purredsoftly in her son's ear; for, being a woman, she must talk, and, beinga mother, must pet the one delight of her life, and make a littlefestival when the lord of the manor came home. A whole drove of fattedcalves were metaphorically killed, and a banquet appeared with speed. John was not one of those romantic heroes who can go through threevolumes of hair-breadth escapes without the faintest hint of thatblessed institution, dinner; therefore, like "Lady Letherbridge, " hepartook, copiously of everything, while the two women beamed over eachmouthful with an interest that enhanced its flavor, and urged upon himcold meat and cheese, pickles and pie, as if dyspepsia and nightmarewere among the lost arts. Then he opened his budget of news and fed them. "I was coming next month, according to custom; but Philip fell upon andso tempted me, that I was driven to sacrifice myself to the cause offriendship, and up we came to-night. He would not let me come heretill we had seen your father, Nan; for the poor lad was pining forLaura, and hoped his good behavior for the past year would satisfy hisjudge and secure his recall. We had a fine talk with your father; and, upon my life, Philip seemed to have received the gift of tongues, forhe made a most eloquent plea, which I've stored away for future use, Iassure you. The dear old gentleman was very kind, told Phil he wassatisfied with the success of his probation, that he should see Laurawhen he liked, and, if all went well, should receive his reward in thespring. It must be a delightful sensation to know you have made afellow-creature as happy as those words made Phil to-night. " John paused, and looked musingly at the matronly tea-pot, as if he sawa wondrous future in its shine. Nan twinkled off the drops that rose at the thought of Laura's joy, andsaid, with grateful warmth, -- "You say nothing of your own share in the making of that happiness, John; but we know it, for Philip has told Laura in his letters all thatyou have been to him, and I am sure there was other eloquence besidehis own before father granted all you say he has. Oh, John, I thankyou very much for this!" Mrs. Lord beamed a whole midsummer of delight upon her son, as she sawthe pleasure these words gave him, though he answered simply, -- "I only tried to be a brother to him, Nan; for he has been most kind tome. Yes, I said my little say to-night, and gave my testimony inbehalf of the prisoner at the bar; a most merciful judge pronounced hissentence, and he rushed straight to Mrs. Leigh's to tell Laura theblissful news. Just imagine the scene when he appears, and how Di willopen her wicked eyes and enjoy the spectacle of the dishevelled lover, the bride-elect's tears, the stir, and the romance of the thing. She'll cry over it to-night, and caricature it to-morrow. " And John led the laugh at the picture he had conjured up, to turn thethoughts of Di's dangerous sister from himself. At ten Nan retired into the depths of her old bonnet with a fardifferent face from the one she brought out of it, and John, resuminghis hat, mounted guard. "Don't stay late, remember, John!" And in Mrs. Lord's voice there was awarning tone that her son interpreted aright. "I'll not forget, mother. " And he kept his word; for though Philip's happiness floated temptinglybefore him, and the little figure at his side had never seemed so dear, he ignored the bland winds, the tender night, and set a seal upon hislips, thinking manfully within himself. "I see many signs of promise inher happy face; but I will wait and hope a little longer for her sake. " "Where is father, Sally?" asked Nan, as that functionary appeared, blinking owlishly, but utterly repudiating the idea of sleep. "He went down the garding, miss, when the gentlemen cleared, bein' alittle flustered by the goin's on. Shall I fetch him in?" asked Sally, as irreverently as if her master were a bag of meal. "No, we will go ourselves. " And slowly the two paced down theleaf-strewn walk. Fields of yellow grain were waving on the hill-side, and sere cornblades rustled in the wind, from the orchard came the scent of ripeningfruit, and all the garden-plots lay ready to yield up their humbleofferings to their master's hand. But in the silence of the night agreater Reaper had passed by, gathering in the harvest of a righteouslife, and leaving only tender memories for the gleaners who had come solate. The old man sat in the shadow of the tree his own hands planted; itsfruit boughs shone ruddily, and its leaves still whispered the lowlullaby that hushed him to his rest. "How fast he sleeps! Poor father! I should have come before and made itpleasant for him. " As she spoke, Nan lifted up the head bent down upon his breast, andkissed his pallid cheek. "Oh, John, this is not sleep. " "Yes, dear, the happiest he will ever know. " For a moment the shadows flickered over three white faces and thesilence deepened solemnly. Then John reverently bore the pale shape in, and Nan dropped down beside it, saying, with a rain of grateful tears, -- "He kissed me when I went, and said a last good-night!'" For an hour steps went to and fro about her, many voices whispered nearher, and skilful hands touched the beloved clay she held so fast; butone by one the busy feet passed out, one by one the voices died away, and human skill proved vain. Then Mrs. Lord drew the orphan to the shelter of her arms, soothing herwith the mute solace of that motherly embrace. "Nan, Nan! here's Philip! come and see!" The happy call re-echoedthrough the house, and Nan sprang up as if her time for grief were past. "I must tell them. Oh, my poor girls, how will they bear it?--they haveknown so little sorrow!" But there was no need for her to speak; other lips had spared her thehard task. For, as she stirred to meet them, a sharp cry rent the air, steps rang upon the stairs, and two wild-eyed creatures came into thehush of that familiar room, for the first time meeting with no welcomefrom their father's voice. With one impulse, Di and Laura fled to Nan, and the sisters clungtogether in a silent embrace, more eloquent than words. John took hismother by the hand, and led her from the room, closing the door uponthe sacredness of grief. "Yes, we are poorer than we thought; but when everything is settled, weshall get on very well. We can let a part of this great house, andlive quietly together until spring; then Laura will be married, and Dican go on their travels with them, as Philip wishes her to do. Weshall be cared for; so never fear for us, John. " Nan said this, as her friend parted from her a week later, after thesaddest holiday he had ever known. "And what becomes of you, Nan?" he asked, watching the patient eyesthat smiled when others would have wept. "I shall stay in the dear old house; for no other place would seem likehome to me. I shall find some little child to love and care for, andbe quite happy till the girls come back and want me. " John nodded wisely, as he listened, and went away prophesying withinhimself, -- "She shall find something more than a child to love; and, God willing, shall be very happy till the girls come home and--cannot have her. " Nan's plan was carried into effect. Slowly the divided waters closedagain, and the three fell back into their old life. But the touch ofsorrow drew them closer; and, though invisible, a beloved presencestill moved among them, a familiar voice still spoke to them in thesilence of their softened hearts. Thus the soil was made ready, and inthe depth of winter the good seed was sown, was watered with manytears, and soon sprang up green with a promise of a harvest for theirafter years. Di and Laura consoled themselves with their favorite employments, unconscious that Nan was growing paler, thinner, and more silent, asthe weeks went by, till one day she dropped quietly before them, and itsuddenly became manifest that she was utterly worn out with many caresand the secret suffering of a tender heart bereft of the paternal lovewhich had been its strength and stay. "I'm only tired, dear girls. Don't be troubled, for I shall be upto-morrow, " she said cheerily, as she looked into the anxious facesbending over her. But the weariness was of many months' growth, and it was weeks beforethat "to-morrow" came. Laura installed herself as nurse, and her devotion was repaidfour-fold; for, sitting at her sister's bedside, she learned a finerart than that she had left. Her eye grew clear to see the beauty of aself-denying life, and in the depths of Nan's meek nature she found thestrong, sweet virtues that made her what she was. Then remembering that these womanly attributes were a bride's bestdowry, Laura gave herself to their attainment, that she might become toanother household the blessing Nan had been to her own; and turningfrom the worship of the goddess Beauty, she gave her hand to thathumbler and more human teacher, Duty, --learning her lessons with awilling heart, for Philip's sake. Di corked her inkstand, locked her bookcase, and went at housework asif it were a five-barred gate; of course she missed the leap, butscrambled bravely through, and appeared much sobered by the exercise. Sally had departed to sit under a vine and fig-tree of her own, so Dihad undisputed sway; but if dish-pans and dusters had tongues, direfulwould have been the history of that crusade against frost and fire, indolence and inexperience. But they were dumb, and Di scorned tocomplain, though her struggles were pathetic to behold, and her sisterswent through a series of messes equal to a course of "PrinceBenreddin's" peppery tarts. Reality turned Romance out of doors; for, unlike her favorite heroines in satin and tears, or helmet and shield, Di met her fate in a big checked apron and dust-cap, wonderful to see;yet she wielded her broom as stoutly as "Moll Pitcher" shouldered hergun, and marched to her daily martyrdom in the kitchen with as heroic aheart as the "Maid of Orleans" took to her stake. Mind won the victory over matter in the end, and Di was better all herdays for the tribulations and the triumphs of that time; for shedrowned her idle fancies in her wash-tub, made burnt-offerings ofselfishness and pride, and learned the worth of self-denial, as shesang with happy voice among the pots and kettles of her conquered realm. Nan thought of John, and in the stillness of her sleepless nightsprayed Heaven to keep him safe, and make her worthy to receive andstrong enough to bear the blessedness or pain of love. Snow fell without, and keen winds howled among the leafless elms, but"herbs of grace" were blooming beautifully in the sunshine of sincereendeavor, and this dreariest season proved the most fruitful of theyear; for love taught Laura, labor chastened Di, and patience fittedNan for the blessing of her life. Nature, that stillest, yet most diligent of housewives, began at lastthat "spring cleaning" which she makes so pleasant that none find theheart to grumble as they do when other matrons set their premisesa-dust. Her hand-maids, wind and rain and sun, swept, washed, andgarnished busily, green carpets were unrolled, apple-boughs were hungwith draperies of bloom, and dandelions, pet nurslings of the year, came out to play upon the sward. From the South returned that opera troupe whose manager is never indespair, whose tenor never sulks, whose prima donna never fails, and inthe orchard bona fide matinees were held, to which buttercups andclovers crowded in their prettiest spring hats, and verdant youngblades twinkled their dewy lorgnettes, as they bowed and made way forthe floral belles. May was bidding June good-morrow, and the roses were just dreaming thatit was almost time to wake, when John came again into the quiet roomwhich now seemed the Eden that contained his Eve. Of course there was ajubilee; but something seemed to have befallen the whole group, fornever had they appeared in such odd frames of mind. John was restless, and wore an excited look, most unlike his usual serenity of aspect. Nan the cheerful had fallen into a well of silence and was not to beextracted by any Hydraulic power, though she smiled like the June skyover her head. Di's peculiarities were out in full force, and shelooked as if she would go off like a torpedo at a touch; but throughall her moods there was a half-triumphant, half-remorseful expressionin the glance she fixed on John. And Laura, once so silent, now sanglike a blackbird, as she flitted to and fro; but her fitful song wasalways, "Philip, my king. " John felt that there had come a change upon the three, and silentlydivined whose unconscious influence had wrought the miracle. Theembargo was off his tongue, and he was in a fever to ask that questionwhich brings a flutter to the stoutest heart; but though the "man" hadcome, the "hour" had not. So, by way of steadying his nerves, he pacedthe room, pausing often to take notes of his companions, and each pauseseemed to increase his wonder and content. He looked at Nan. She was in her usual place, the rigid little chairshe loved, because it once was large enough to hold a curly-headedplaymate and herself. The old work-basket was at her side, and thebattered thimble busily at work; but her lips wore a smile they hadnever worn before, the color of the unblown roses touched her cheek, and her downcast eyes were full of light. He looked at Di. The inevitable book was on her knee, but its leaveswere uncut; the strong-minded knob of hair still asserted its supremacyaloft upon her head, and the triangular jacket still adorned hershoulders in defiance of all fashions, past, present, or to come; butthe expression of her brown countenance had grown softer, her tonguehad found a curb, and in her hand lay a card with "Potts, Kettel & Co. "inscribed thereon, which she regarded with never a scornful word forthe "Co. " He looked at Laura. She was before her easel as of old; but the palenun had given place to a blooming girl, who sang at her work, which wasno prim Pallas, but a Clytie turning her human face to meet the sun. "John, what are you thinking of?" He stirred as if Di's voice had disturbed his fancy at some pleasantpastime, but answered with his usual sincerity, -- "I was thinking of a certain dear old fairy tale called 'Cinderella. '" "Oh!" said Di; and her "Oh" was a most impressive monosyllable. "I seethe meaning of your smile now; and though the application of the storyis not very complimentary to all parties concerned, it is very just andvery true. " She paused a moment, then went on with softened voice and earnestmien:-- "You think I am a blind and selfish creature. So I am, but not so blindand selfish as I have been; for many tears have cleared my eyes, andmuch sincere regret has made me humbler than I was. I have found abetter book than any father's library can give me, and I have read itwith a love and admiration that grew stronger as I turned the leaves. Henceforth I take it for my guide and gospel, and, looking back uponthe selfish and neglectful past, can only say, Heaven bless your dearheart, Nan!" Laura echoed Di's last words; for, with eyes as full of tenderness, shelooked down upon the sister she had lately learned to know, saying, warmly, -- "Yes, 'Heaven bless your dear heart, Nan!' I never can forget all youhave been to me; and when I am far away with Philip, there will alwaysbe one countenance more beautiful to me than any pictured face I maydiscover, there will be one place more dear to me than Rome. The facewill be yours, Nan, always so patient, always so serene; and the dearerplace will be this home of ours, which you have made so pleasant to meall these years by kindnesses as numberless and noiseless as the dropsof dew. " "Dear girls, what have I ever done, that you should love me so?" criedNan, with happy wonderment, as the tall heads, black and golden, bentto meet the lowly brown one, and her sisters' mute lips answered her. Then Laura looked up, saying, playfully, -- "Here are the good and wicked sisters;-where shall we find the Prince?" "There!" cried Di, pointing to John; and then her secret went off likea rocket; for, with her old impetuosity, she said, -- "I have found you out, John, and am ashamed to look you in the face, remembering the past. Girls, you know when father died, John sent usmoney, which he said Mr. Owen had long owed us and had paid at last?It was a kind lie, John, and a generous thing to do; for we needed it, but never would have taken it as a gift. I know you meant that weshould never find this out; but yesterday I met Mr. Owen returning fromthe West, and when I thanked him for a piece of justice we had notexpected of him, he gruffly told me he had never paid the debt, nevermeant to pay it, for it was outlawed, and we could not claim afarthing. John, I have laughed at you, thought you stupid, treated youunkindly; but I know you now, and never shall forget the lesson youhave taught me. I am proud as Lucifer, but I ask you to forgive me, and I seal my real repentance so--and so. " With tragic countenance, Di rushed across the room, threw both armsabout the astonished young man's neck and dropped an energetic kissupon his cheek. There was a momentary silence; for Di finallyillustrated her strong-minded theories by crying like the weakest ofher sex. Laura, with "the ruling passion strong in death, " still triedto draw, but broke her pet crayon, and endowed her Clytie with asupplementary orb, owing to the dimness of her own. And Nan sat withdrooping eyes, that shone upon her work, thinking with tenderpride, --"They know him now, and love him for his generous heart. " Di spoke first, rallying to her colors, though a little daunted by herloss of self-control. "Don't laugh, John, --I couldn't help it; and don't think I'm notsincere, for I am, --I am; and I will prove it by growing good enough tobe your friend. That debt must all be paid, and I shall do it; forI'll turn my books and pen to some account, and write stories full ofclear old souls like you and Nan; and some one, I know, will like andbuy them, though they are not 'works of Shakespeare. ' I've thought ofthis before, have felt I had the power in me; now I have the motive, and now I'll do it. " If Di had Proposed to translate the Koran, or build a new Saint Paul's, there would have been many chances of success; for, once moved, herwill, like a battering-ram, would knock down the obstacles her witscould not surmount. John believed in her most heartily, and showed it, as he answered, looking into her resolute face, -- "I know you will, and yet make us very proud of our 'Chaos, ' Di. Letthe money lie, and when you have a fortune, I'll claim it with enormousinterest; but, believe me, I feel already doubly repaid by the esteemso generously confessed, so cordially bestowed, and can only say, as weused to years ago, --'Now let's forgive and so forget. " But proud Di would not let him add to her obligation, even by returningher impetuous salute; she slipped away, and, shaking off the lastdrops, answered with a curious mixture of old freedom and new respect, -- "No more sentiment, please, John. We know each other now; and when Ifind a friend, I never let him go. We have smoked the pipe of peace;so let us go back to our wigwams and bury the feud. Where were we whenI lost my head? and what were we talking about?" "Cinderella and the Prince. " As she spoke, John's eye kindled, and, turning, he looked down at Nan, who sat diligently ornamenting with microscopic stitches a great patchgoing on, the wrong side out. "Yes, --so we were; and now taking pussy for the godmother, thecharacters of the story are well personated, --all but the slipper, "said Di, laughing, as she thought of the many times they had played ittogether years ago. A sudden movement stirred John's frame, a sudden purpose shone in hiscountenance, and a sudden change befell his voice, as he said, producing from some hiding-place a little wornout shoe, -- "I can supply the slipper;--who will try it first?" Di's black eyes opened wide, as they fell on the familiar object; thenher romance-loving nature saw the whole plot of that drama which needsbut two to act it. A great delight flushed up into her face, as shepromptly took her cue, saying-- "No need for us to try it, Laura; for it wouldn't fit us, if our feetwere as small as Chinese dolls; our parts are played out; therefore'Exeunt wicked sisters to the music of the wedding-bells. '" And pouncing upon the dismayed artist, she swept her out and closed thedoor with a triumphant bang. John went to Nan, and, dropping on his knee as reverently as the heraldof the fairy tale, he asked, still smiling, but with lips growntremulous, -- "Will Cinderella try the little shoe, and--if it fits--go with thePrince?" But Nan only covered up her face, weeping happy tears, while all theweary work strayed down upon the floor, as if it knew her holiday hadcome. John drew the hidden face still closer, and while she listened to hiseager words, Nan heard the beating of the strong man's heart, and knewit spoke the truth. "Nan, I promised mother to be silent till I was sure I loved youwholly, --sure that the knowledge would give no pain when I should tellit, as I am trying to tell it now. This little shoe has been mvcomforter through this long year, and I have kept it as other loverskeep their fairer favors. It has been a talisman more eloquent to methan flower or ring; for, when I saw how worn it was, I always thoughtof the willing feet that came and went for others' comfort all daylong; when I saw the little bow you tied, I always thought of the handsso diligent in serving any one who knew a want or felt a pain; and whenI recalled the gentle creature who had worn it last, I always saw herpatient, tender, and devout, --and tried to grow more worthy of her, that I might one day dare to ask if she would walk beside me all mylife and be my 'angel in the house. ' Will you, dear? Believe me, youshall never know a weariness or grief I have the power to shield youfrom. " Then Nan, as simple in her love as in her life, laid her arms about hisneck, her happy face against his own, and answered softly, -- "Oh, John, I never can be sad or tired any more!" DEBBY'S DEBUT. On a cheery June day Mrs. Penelope Carroll and her niece Debby Wilder, were whizzing along on their way to a certain gay watering-place, bothin the best of humors with each other and all the world beside. AuntPen was concocting sundry mild romances, and laying harmless plots forthe pursuance of her favorite pastime, match-making; for she hadinvited her pretty relative to join her summer jaunt, ostensibly thatthe girl might see a little of fashionable life, but the good ladysecretly proposed to herself to take her to the beach and get her arich husband, very much as she would have proposed to take her toBroadway and get her a new bonnet: for both articles she considerednecessary, but somewhat difficult for a poor girl to obtain. Debby was slowly getting her poise, after the excitement of a firstvisit to New York; for ten days of bustle had introduced the youngphilosopher to a new existence, and the working-day world seemed tohave vanished when she made her last pat of butter in the dairy athome. For an hour she sat thinking over the good-fortune which hadbefallen her, and the comforts of this life which she had suddenlyacquired. Debby was a true girl, with all a girl's love of ease andpleasure; it must not be set down against her that she surveyed herpretty travelling-suit with much complacency, rejoicing inwardly thatshe could use her hands without exposing fractured gloves, that herbonnet was of the newest mode, needing no veil to hide a faded ribbonor a last year's shape, that her dress swept the ground withfashionable untidiness, and her boots were guiltless of a patch, --thatshe was the possessor of a mine of wealth in two of the eight trunksbelonging to her aunt, that she was travelling like any lady of theland with man- and maid-servant at her command, and that she wasleaving work and care behind her for a month or two of novelty and rest. When these agreeable facts were fully realized, and Aunt Pen had fallenasleep behind her veil, Debby took out a book, and indulged in herfavorite luxury, soon forgetting past, present, and future in theinimitable history of Martin Chuzzlewit. The sun blazed, the carsrattled, children cried, ladies nodded, gentlemen longed for the solaceof prohibited cigars, and newspapers were converted into sun-shades, nightcaps, and fans; but Debby read on, unconscious of all about her, even of the pair of eves that watched her from the Opposite corner ofthe car. A Gentleman with a frank, strong-featured face sat therein, and amused himself by scanning with thoughtful gaze the countenances ofhis fellow-travellers. Stout Aunt Pen, dignified even in her sleep, was a "model of deportment" to the rising generation; but the studentof human nature found a more attractive subject in her companion, thegirl with an apple-blossom face and merry brown eyes, who sat smilinginto her book, never heeding that her bonnet was awry, and the windtaking unwarrantable liberties with her ribbons and her hair. Innocent Debby turned her pages, unaware that her fate sat opposite inthe likeness of a serious, black-bearded gentleman, who watched thesmiles rippling from her lips to her eyes with an interest thatdeepened as the minutes passed. If his paper had been full of anythingbut "Bronchial Troches" and "Spalding's Prepared Glue, " he would havefound more profitable employment; but it wasn't, and with the usualreadiness of idle souls he fell into evil ways, and permittedcuriosity, that feminine sin, to enter in and take possession of hismanly mind. A great desire seized him to discover what book his prettyneighbor; but a cover hid the name, and he was too distant to catch iton the fluttering leaves. Presently a stout Emerald-Islander, with herwardrobe oozing out of sundry paper parcels, vacated the seat behindthe two ladies; and it was soon quietly occupied by the individual forwhom Satan was finding such indecorous employment. Peeping round thelittle gray bonnet, past a brown braid and a fresh cheek, the youngman's eye fell upon the words the girl was reading, and forgot to lookaway again. Books were the desire of his life; but an honorablepurpose and an indomitable will kept him steady at his ledgers till hecould feel that he had earned the right to read. Like wine to manyanother was an open page to his; he read a line, and, longing for more, took a hasty sip from his neighbor's cup, forgetting that it was astranger's also. Down the page went the two pairs of eyes, and the merriment fromDebby's seemed to light up the sombre ones behind her with a suddenshine that softened the whole face and made it very winning. No wonderthey twinkled, for Elijah Pogram spoke, and "Mrs. Hominy, the mother ofthe modern Gracchi, in the classical blue cap and the red cottonpocket-handkerchief, came down the room in a procession of one. " A lowlaugh startled Debby, though it was smothered like the babes in theTower; and, turning, she beheld the trespasser scarlet with confusion, and sobered with a tardy sense of his transgression. Debby was not astarched young lady of the "prune and prism" school, but a frank, free-hearted little body, quick to read the sincerity of others, and totake looks and words at their real value. Dickens was her idol; andfor his sake she could have forgiven a greater offence than this. The stranger's contrite countenance and respectful apology won hergood-will at once; and with a finer courtesy than any Aunt Pen wouldhave taught, she smilingly bowed her pardon, and, taking another bookfrom her basket, opened it, saying, pleasantly, -- "Here is the first volume if you like it, Sir. I can recommend it asan invaluable consolation for the discomforts of a summer day'sjourney, and it is heartily at your service. " As much surprised as gratified, the gentleman accepted the book, andretired behind it with the sudden discovery that wrongdoing has itscompensation in the pleasurable sensation of being forgiven. Stolendelights are well known to be specially saccharine: and much as thispardoned sinner loved books, it seemed to him that the interest of thestory flagged, and that the enjoyment of reading was much enhanced bythe proximity of a gray bonnet and a girlish profile. But Dickens soonproved more powerful than Debby, and she was forgotten, till, pausingto turn a leaf, the young man met her shy glance, as she asked, withthe pleased expression of a child who has shared an apple with aplaymate, -- "Is it good?" "Oh, very!"--and the man looked as honestly grateful for the book asthe boy would have done for the apple. Only five words in the conversation, but Aunt Pen woke, as if thewatchful spirit of propriety had roused her to pluck her charge fromthe precipice on which she stood. "Dora, I'm astonished at you! Speaking to strangers in that free manneris a most unladylike thing. How came you to forget what I have toldyou over and over again about a proper reserve?" The energetic whisperreached the gentleman's ear, and he expected to be annihilated with alook when his offence was revealed; but he was spared that ordeal, forthe young voice answered, softly, -- "Don't faint, Aunt Pen: I only did as I'd be done by; for I had twobooks, and the poor man looked so hungry for something to read that Icouldn't resist sharing my 'goodies. ' He will see that I'm acountrified little thing in spite of my fine feathers, and won't beshocked at my want of rigidity and frigidity; so don't look dismal, andI'll be prim and proper all the rest of the way, --if I don't forget it. " "I wonder who he is; may belong to some of our first families, and inthat case it might be worth while to exert ourselves, you know. Did youlearn his name, Dora?" whispered the elder lady. Debby shook her head, and murmured, "Hush!"--but Aunt Pen had heard ofmatches being made in cars as well as in heaven; and as an experiencedgeneral, it became her to reconnoitre, when one of the enemy approachedher camp. Slightly altering her position, she darted anall-comprehensive glance at the invader, who seemed entirely absorbed, for not an eyelash stirred during the scrutiny. It lasted but aninstant, yet in that instant he was weighed and found wanting; for thatexperienced eye detected that his cravat was two inches wider thanfashion ordained, that his coat was not of the latest style, that hisgloves were mended, and his handkerchief neither cambric nor silk. That was enough, and sentence was passed forthwith, --"Some respectableclerk, good-looking, but poor, and not at all the thing for Dora"; andAunt Pen turned to adjust a voluminous green veil over her niece'sbonnet, "To shield it from the dust, dear, " which process also shieldedthe face within from the eye of man. A curious smile, half mirthful, half melancholy, passed over theirneighbor's lips; but his peace of mind seemed undisturbed, and heremained buried in his book Till they reached -----, at dusk. As hereturned it, he offered his services in procuring a carriage orattending to luggage; but Mrs. Carroll, with much dignity of aspect, informed him that her servants would attend to those matters, and, bowing gravely, he vanished into the night. As they rolled away to the hotel, Debby was wild to run down to thebeach whence came the solemn music of the sea, making the twilightbeautiful. But Aunt Pen was too tired to do anything but sup in herown apartment and go early to bed; and Debby might as soon haveproposed to walk up the great Pyramid as to make her first appearancewithout that sage matron to mount guard over her; so she resignedherself to pie and patience, and fell asleep, wishing it were to-morrow. At five, a. M. , a nightcapped head appeared at one of the myriadwindows of the ----- Hotel, and remained there as if fascinated by themiracle of sunrise over the sea. Under her simplicity of character andgirlish merriment Debby possessed a devout spirit and a nature full ofthe real poetry of life, two gifts that gave her dawning womanhood itssweetest charm, and made her what she was. As she looked out thatsummer dawn upon the royal marriage of the ocean and the sun, all pettyhopes and longings faded out of sight, and her young face grew luminouswith thoughts too deep for words. Her day was happier for that silenthour, her life richer for the aspirations that uplifted her likebeautiful strong angels, and left a blessing when they went. The smileof the June sky touched her lips, the morning red seemed to linger onher cheek, and in her eye arose a light kindled by the shimmer of thatbroad sea of gold; for Nature rewarded her young votary well, and gaveher beauty, when she offered love. How long she leaned there Debby didnot know; steps from below roused her from her reverie, and led herback into the world again. Smiling at herself, She stole to bed, andlay wrapped in waking dreams as changeful as the shadows, dancing onher chamber-wall. The advent of her aunt's maid, Victorine, some two hours later, was thesignal to be "up and doing"; and she meekly resigned herself into thehands of that functionary, who appeared to regard her in the light ofan animated pin-cushion, as she performed the toilet-ceremonies with anabsorbed aspect, which impressed her subject with a sense of thesolemnity of the occasion. "Now, Mademoiselle, regard yourself, and pronounce that you areravishing, " Victorine said at length, folding her hands with a sigh ofsatisfaction, as she fell back in an attitude of serene triumph. Debby obeyed, and inspected herself with great interest and someastonishment; for there was a sweeping amplitude of array about theyoung lady whom she beheld in the much-befrilled gown and embroideredskirts, which somewhat alarmed her as to the navigation of a vessel"with such a spread of sail, " while a curious sensation of beingsomebody else pervaded her from the crown of her head, with its shiningcoils of hair, to the soles of the French slippers, whose energiesseemed to have been devoted to the production of marvellous rosettes. "Yes, I look very nice, thank you; and yet I feel like a doll, helplessand fine, and fancy I was more of a woman in my fresh gingham, with aknot of clovers in my hair, than I am now. Aunt Pen was very kind toget me all these pretty things; but I'm afraid my mother would lookhorrified to see me in such a high state of flounce externally and solittle room to breath internally. " "Your mamma would not flatter me, Mademoiselle; but come now to Madame;she is waiting to behold you, and I have yet her toilet to make "; and, with a pitying shrug, Victorine followed Debby to her aunt's room. "Charming! really elegant!" cried that lady, emerging from her towelwith a rubicund visage. "Drop that braid half an inch lower, and pull the worked end of herhandkerchief out of the right-hand pocket, Vic. There! Now, Dora, don't run about and get rumpled, but sit quietly down and practicerepose till I am ready. " Debby obeyed, and sat mute, with the air of a child in its Sunday-beston a week-day, pleased with the novelty, but somewhat oppressed withthe responsibility of such unaccustomed splendor, and utterly unable toconnect any ideas of repose with tight shoes and skirts in a rampantstate of starch. "Well, you see, I bet on Lady Gay against Cockadoodle, and if you'llbelieve me--Hullo! there's Mrs. Carroll, and deuse take me if shehasn't got a girl with her! Look, Seguin!"--and Joe Leavenworth, a"man of the world, " aged twenty, paused in his account of an excitingrace to make the announcement. Mr. Seguin, his friend and Mentor, as much his, senior in worldlywickedness as in years, tore himself from his breakfast long enough tosurvey the new-comers, and then returned to it, saying, briefly, -- "The old lady is worth cultivating, --gives good suppers, and thanks youfor eating them. The girl is well got up, but has no style, and blusheslike a milkmaid. Better fight shy of her, Joe. " "Do you think so? Well, now I rather fancy that kind of thing. She'snew, you see, and I get on with that sort of girl the best, for the oldones are so deused knowing that a fellow has no chance of a--By theLord Harry, she's eating bread and milk!" Young Leavenworth whisked his glass into his eye, and Mr. Seguin putdown his roll to behold the phenomenon. Poor Debby! her first step hadbeen a wrong one. All great minds have their weak points. Aunt Pen's was her breakfast, and the peace of her entire day depended upon the success of that meal. Therefore, being down rather late, the worthy lady concentrated herenergies upon the achievement of a copious repast, and, trusting toformer lessons, left Debby to her own resources for a few fatalmoments. After the flutter occasioned by being scooped into her seat bya severe-nosed waiter, Debby had only courage enough left to refuse teaand coffee and accept milk. That being done, she took the firstfamiliar viand that appeared, and congratulated herself upon being ableto get her usual breakfast. With returning composure, she looked abouther and began to enjoy the buzz of voices, the clatter of knives andforks, and the long lines of faces all intent upon the business of thehour; but her peace was of short duration. Pausing for a fresh relay oftoast, Aunt Pen glanced toward her niece with the comfortableconviction that her appearance was highly creditable; and her dismaycan be imagined, when she beheld that young lady placidly devouring agreat cup of brown-bread and milk before the eyes of the assembledmultitude. The poor lady choked in her coffee, and between her gaspswhispered irefully behind her napkin, -- "For Heaven's sake, Dora, put away that mess! The Ellenboroughs aredirectly opposite, watching everything you do. Eat that omelet, oranything respectable, unless you want me to die of mortification. " Debby dropped her spoon, and, hastily helping herself from the dish heraunt pushed toward her, consumed the leathery compound with as muchgrace as she could assume, though unable to repress a laugh at AuntPen's disturbed countenance. There was a slight lull in the clatter, and the blithe sound caused several heads to turn toward the quarterwhence it came, for it was as unexpected and pleasant a sound as abobolink's song in a cage of shrill-voiced canaries. "She's a jolly little thing and powerful pretty, so deuse take me if Idon't make up to the old lady and find out who the girl is. I've beenintroduced to Mrs. Carroll at our house: but I suppose she won'tremember me till I remind her. " The "deuse" declining to accept of his repeated offers (probablybecause there was still too much honor and honesty in the boy, ) youngLeavenworth sought out Mrs. Carroll on the Piazza, as she and Debbywere strolling there an hour later. "Joe Leavenworth, my dear, from one of our first families, --verywealthy, --fine match, --pray, be civil, --smooth your hair, hold backyour shoulders, and put down your parasol, " murmured Aunt Pen, as thegentleman approached with as much pleasure in his countenance as it wasconsistent with manly dignity to express upon meeting two of theinferior race. "My niece, Miss Dora Wilder. This is her first season at the beach, and we must endeavor to make it pleasant for her, or she will begetting homesick and running away to mamma, " said Aunt Pen, in hersociety-tone, after she had returned his greeting, and perpetrated apolite fiction, by declaring that she remembered him perfectly, for hewas the image of his father. Mr. Leavenworth brought the heels of his varnished boots together witha click, and executed the latest bow imported, then stuck his glass inhis eye and stared till it fell out, (the glass, not the eye, ) uponwhich he fell into step with them, remarking, -- "I shall be most happy to show the lions: they are deused tame ones, soyou needn't be alarmed. Miss Wilder. " Debby was good-natured enough to laugh; and, elated with that success, he proceeded to pour forth his stores of wit and learning in truecollegian style, quite unconscious that the "jolly little thing" waslooking him through and through with the smiling eyes that wereproducing such pleasurable sensations under the mosaic studs. Theystrolled toward the beach, and, meeting an old acquaintance, Aunt Penfell behind, and beamed upon the young pair as if her prophetic eyeeven at this early stage beheld them walking altarward in a properstate of blond white vest and bridal awkwardness. "Can you skip a stone, Mr. Leavenworth? asked Debby, possessed with amischievous desire to shock the piece of elegance at her side. "Eh? what's that?" he inquired, with his head on one side, like aninquisitive robin. Debby repeated her question, and illustrated it by sending a stoneskimming over the water in the most scientific manner. Mr. Joe waspainfully aware that this was not at all "the thing, " that his sistersnever did so, and that Seguin would laugh confoundedly, if he caughthim at it; but Debby looked so irresistibly fresh and pretty under herrose-lined parasol that he was moved to confess that he had done such athing, and to sacrifice his gloves by poking in the sand, that he mightindulge in a like unfashionable pastime. "You'll be at the hop to-night, I hope, Miss Wilder, " he observed, introducing a topic suited to a young lady's mental capacity. "Yes, indeed; for dancing is one of the joys of my life, next tohusking and making hay"; and Debby polked a few steps along the beach, much to the edification of a pair of old gentlemen, serenely takingtheir first constitutional. "Making what?" cried Mr. Joe, poking after her. "Hay; ah, that is the pleasantest fun in the world, --and betterexercise, my mother says, for soul and body, than dancing till dawn incrowded rooms, with everything in a state of unnatural excitement. Ifone wants real merriment, let him go into a new-mown field, where allthe air is full of summer odors, where wild-flowers nod along thewalls, where blackbirds make finer music than any band, and sun andwind and cheery voices do their part, while windrows rise, and greatloads go rumbling through the lanes with merry brown faces atop. Yes, much as I like dancing, it is not to be compared with that; for in theone case we shut out the lovely world, and in the other we become apart of it, till by its magic labor turns to poetry, and we harvestsomething better than dried buttercups and grass. " As she spoke, Debby looked up, expecting to meet a glance ofdisapproval; but something in the simple earnestness of her manner hadrecalled certain boyish pleasures as innocent as they were hearty, which now contrasted very favorably with the later pastimes in whichfast horses, and that lower class of animals, fast men, bore so large apart. Mr. Joe thoughtfully punched five holes in the sand, and for amoment Debby liked the expression of his face; then the oldlistlessness returned, and, looking up, he said, with an air of ennuithat was half sad, half ludicrous, in one so young and so generouslyendowed with youth, health, and the good gifts of this life, -- "I used to fancy that sort of thing years ago, but I'm afraid I shouldfind it a little slow now, though you describe it in such an invitingmanner that I would be tempted to try it, if a hay-cock came in my way;for, upon my life, it's deused heavy work loafing about at thesewatering-places all summer. Between ourselves, there's a deal ofhumbug about this kind of life, as you will find, when you've tried itas long as I have. " "Yes, I begin to think so already; but perhaps you can give me a fewfriendly words of warning from the stones of your experience, that Imay be spared the pain of saying what so many look, --'Grandma, theworld is hollow; my doll is stuffed with sawdust; and I should 'like togo into a convent, if you please. '" Debby's eyes were dancing with merriment; but they were demurelydown-cast, and her voice was perfectly serious. The milk of human kindness had been slightly curdled for Mr. Joe bysundry college-tribulations; and having been "suspended, " he verynaturally vibrated between the inborn jollity of his temperament andthe bitterness occasioned by his wrongs. He had lost at billiards the night before, had been hurried atbreakfast, had mislaid his cigar-case, and splashed his boots;consequently the darker mood prevailed that morning, and when hiscounsel was asked, he gave it like one who bad known the heaviesttrials of this "Piljin Projiss of a wale. " "There's no justice in the world, no chance for us young people toenjoy ourselves, without some penalty to pay, some drawback to worry uslike these confounded 'all-rounders. ' Even here, where all seems freeand easy, there's no end of gossips and spies who tattle and watch tillyou feel as if you lived in a lantern. 'Every one for himself, and theDevil take the hindmost'; that's the principle they go on, and you haveto keep your wits about you in the most exhausting manner, or you aredone for before you know it. I've seen a good deal of this sort ofthing, and hope you'll get on better than some do, when it's known thatyou are the rich Mrs. Carroll's niece; though you don't need that factto enhance your charms, --upon my life, you don't. " Debby laughed behind her parasol at this burst of candor; but herindependent nature prompted her to make a fair beginning, in spite ofAunt Pen's polite fictions and well-meant plans. "Thank you for your warning, but I don't apprehend much annoyance ofthat kind, " she said, demurely. "Do you know, I think, if young ladieswere truthfully labelled when they went into society, it would be acharming fashion, and save a world of trouble? Something in thisstyle:--'Arabella Marabout, aged nineteen, fortune $100, 000, temperwarranted'; 'Laura Eau-de-Cologne, aged twenty-eight, fortune $30, 000, temper slightly damaged'; Deborah Wilder, aged eighteen, fortune, onepair of hands, one head, indifferently well filled, one heart, (not inthe market, ) temper decided, and no expectations. ' There, you see, thatwould do away with much of the humbug you lament, and we poor soulswould know at once whether we were sought for our fortunes orourselves, and that would be so comfortable!" Mr. Leavenworth turned away, with a convicted sort of expression, asshe spoke, and, making a spyglass of his hand, seemed to be watchingsomething out at sea with absorbing interest. He had been guilty of astrong desire to discover whether Debby was an heiress, but had notexpected to be so entirely satisfied on that important subject, and wasdimly conscious that a keen eye had seen his anxiety, and a quick witdevised a means of setting it at rest forever. Somewhat disconcerted, he suddenly changed the conversation, and, like many another distressedcreature, took to the water, saying briskly, -- "By-the-by, Miss Wilder, as I've engaged to do the honors, shall I havethe pleasure of bathing with you when the fun begins? As you are fondof hay-making, I suppose you intend to pay your respects to the oldgentleman with the three-pronged pitchfork?" "Yes, Aunt Pen means to put me through a course of salt water, and anyinstructions in the art of navigation will be gratefully received; forI never saw the ocean before, and labor under a firm conviction, that, once in, I never shall come out again till I am brought, like Mr. Mantilini, a 'damp, moist, unpleasant body. '" As Debby spoke, Mrs. Carroll hove in sight, coming down before the windwith all sails set, and signals of distress visible long before shedropped anchor and came along-side. The devoted woman had beenstrolling slowly for the girl's sake, though oppressed with a mournfulcertainty that her most prominent feature was fast becoming a finecopper-color; yet she had sustained herself like a Spartan matron, tillit suddenly occurred to her that her charge might be suffering a like "sea-change Into something rich and strange. " Her fears, however, were groundless, for Debby met her without afreckle, looking all the better for her walk; and though her feet werewet with chasing the waves, and her pretty gown the worse for saltwater, Aunt Pen never chid her for the destruction of her raiment, noruttered a warning word against an unladylike exuberance of spirits, butreplied to her inquiry most graciously, -- "Certainly, my love, we shall bathe at eleven, and there will be justtime to get Victorine and our dresses; so run on to the house, and Iwill join you as soon as I have finished what I am saying to Mrs. Earl, "--then added, in a stage-aside, as she put a fallen lock off thegirl's forehead, "You are doing beautifully! He is evidently struck;make yourself interesting, and don't burn your nose, I beg of you. " Debby's bright face clouded over, and she walked on with so muchstateliness that her escort wondered "what the deuse the old lady haddone to her, " and exerted himself to the utmost to recall her merrymood, but with indifferent success. "Now I begin to feel more like myself, for this is getting back tofirst principles, though I fancy I look like the little old woman whofell asleep on the king's highway and woke up with abbreviated drapery;and you look funnier still, Aunt Pen, " said Debby, as she tied on herpagoda-hat, and followed Mrs. Carroll, who walked out of herdressing-room an animated bale of blue cloth surmounted by a giganticsun-bonnet. Mr. Leavenworth was in waiting, and so like a blond-headed lobster inhis scarlet suit that Debby could hardly keep her countenance as theyjoined the groups of bathers gathering along the breezy shore. For an hour each day the actors and actresses who played theirdifferent roles at the ----- Hotel with such precision and success putoff their masks and dared to be themselves. The ocean wrought thechange, for it took old and young into its arms, and for a little whilethey played like children in their mother's lap. No falsehood couldwithstand its rough sincerity; for the waves washed paint and powderfrom worn faces, and left a fresh bloom there. No ailment couldentirely resist its vigorous cure; for every wind brought healing onits wings, endowing many a meagre life with another year of health. Nogloomy spirit could refuse to listen to its lullaby, and the spraybaptized it with the subtile benediction of a cheerier mood. No rankheld place there; for the democratic sea toppled down the greateststatesman in the land, and dashed over the bald pate of a millionnairewith the same white-crested wave that stranded a poor parson on thebeach and filled a fierce reformer's mouth with brine. No fashionruled, but that which is as old as Eden, --the beautiful fashion ofsimplicity. Belles dropped their affectations with their hoops, andran about the shore blithe-hearted girls again. Young men forgot theirvices and their follies, and were not ashamed of the real courage, strength, and skill they had tried to leave behind them with theirboyish plays. Old men gathered shells with the little Cupids dancingon the sand, and were better for that innocent companionship; and youngmothers never looked so beautiful as when they rocked their babies onthe bosom of the sea. Debby vaguely felt this charm, and, yielding to it, splashed and sanglike any beach-bird, while Aunt Pen bobbed placidly up and down in aretired corner, and Mr. Leavenworth swam to and fro, expressing hisfirm belief in mermaids, sirens, and the rest of the aquaticsisterhood, whose warbling no manly ear can resist. "Miss Wilder, you must learn to swim. I've taught quantities of youngladies, and shall be delighted to launch the 'Dora, ' if you'll acceptme as a pilot. Stop a bit; I'll get a life-preserver, " and leavingDebby to flirt with the waves, the scarlet youth departed like a flameof fire. A dismal shriek interrupted his pupil's play, and looking up, she sawher aunt beckoning wildly with one hand, while she was groping in thewater with the other. Debby ran to her, alarmed at her tragicexpression, and Mrs. Carroll, drawing the girl's face into the privacyof her big bonnet, whispered one awful word, adding, distractedly, -- "Dive for them! oh, dive for them! I shall be perfectly helpless, ifthey are lost!" "I can't dive, Aunt Pen; but there is a man, let us ask him, " saidDebby, as a black head appeared to windward. But Mrs. Carroll's "nerves" had received a shock, and, gathering up herdripping garments, she fled precipitately along the shore and vanishedinto her dressing-room. Debby's keen sense of the ludicrous got the better of her respect, andpeal after peal of laughter broke from her lips, till a splash behindher put an end to her merriment, and, turning, she found that thisfriend in need was her acquaintance of the day before. The gentlemanseemed pausing for permission to approach, with much the appearance ofa sagacious Newfoundland, wistful and wet. "Oh, I'm very glad it's you, Sir!" was Debby's cordial greeting, as sheshook a drop off the end of her nose, and nodded, smiling. The new-comer immediately beamed upon her like an amiable Triton, saying, as they turned shoreward, -- "Our first interview opened with a laugh on my side, and our secondwith one on yours. I accept the fact as a good omen. Your friendseemed in trouble; allow me to atone for my past misdemeanors byoffering my services now. But first let me introduce myself; and as Ibelieve in the fitness of things, let me present you with anappropriate card"; and, stooping, the young man wrote "Frank Evan" onthe hard sand at Debby's feet. The girl liked his manner, and, entering into the spirit of the thing, swept as grand a curtsy as her limited drapery would allow saying, merrily, -- "I am Debby Wilder, or Dora, as aunt prefers to call me; and instead oflaughing, I ought to be four feet under water, looking for something wehave lost; but I can't dive, and my distress is dreadful, as you see. " "What have you lost? I will look for it, and bring it back in spite ofthe kelpies, if it is a human possibility, " replied Mr. Evan, pushinghis wet locks out of his eyes, and regarding the ocean with adetermined aspect. Debby leaned toward him, whispering with solemn countenance, -- "It is a set of teeth, Sir. " Mr. Evan was more a man of deeds than words, therefore he disappearedat once with a mighty splash, and after repeated divings and muchlaughter appeared bearing the chief ornament of Mrs. Penelope Carroll'scomely countenance. Debby looked very pretty and grateful as shereturned her thanks, and Mr. Evan was guilty of a secret wish that allthe worthy lady's features were at the bottom of the sea, that he mighthave the satisfaction of restoring them to her attractive niece; butcurbing this unnatural desire, he bowed, saying, gravely, -- "Tell your aunt, if you please, that this little accident will remain adead secret, so far as I am concerned, and I am very glad to have beenof service at such a critical moment. " Whereupon Mr. Evan marched again into the briny deep, and Debby trottedaway to her aunt, whom she found a clammy heap of blue flannel anddespair. Mrs. Carroll's temper was ruffled, and though she joyfullyrattled in her teeth, she said, somewhat testily, when Debby's storywas done, -- "Now that man will have a sort of claim on us, and we must be civil, whoever he is. Dear! dear! I wish it had been Joe Leavenworth instead. Evan, --I don't remember any of our first families with connections ofthat name, and I dislike to be under obligations to a person of thatsort, for there's no knowing how far he may presume; so, pray, becareful, Dora. " "I think you are very ungrateful, Aunt Pen; and if Mr. Evan shouldhappen to be poor, it does not become me to turn up my nose at him, forI'm nothing but a make-believe myself just now. I don't wish to go downupon my knees to him, but I do intend to be as kind to him as I shouldto that conceited Leavenworth boy; yes, kinder even; for poor peoplevalue such things more, as I know very well. " Mrs. Carroll instantly recovered her temper, changed the subject, andprivately resolved to confine her prejudices to her own bosom, as theyseemed to have an aggravating effect upon the youthful person whom shehad set her heart on disposing of to the best advantage. Debby took her swimming-lesson with much success, and would haveachieved her dinner with composure, if white-aproned gentlemen had noteffectually taken away her appetite by whisking bills-of-fare into herhands, and awaiting her orders with a fatherly interest, which inducedthem to congregate mysterious dishes before her, and blandly rectifyher frequent mistakes. She survived the ordeal, however, and at fourp. M. Went to drive with "that Leavenworth boy" in the finest turnout----- could produce. Aunt Pen then came off guard, and with a sigh ofsatisfaction subsided into a peaceful doze, still murmuring, even inher sleep, -- "Propinquity, my love, propinquity works wonders. " "Aunt Pen, are you a modest woman?" asked the young crusader againstestablished absurdities, as she came into the presence-chamber thatevening ready for the hop. "Bless the child, what does she mean?" cried Mrs. Carroll, with a startthat twitched her back-hair out of Victorine's hands. "Would you like to have a daughter of yours go to a party looking as Ilook?" continued her niece, spreading her airy dress, and standing veryerect before her astonished relative. "Why, of course I should, and be proud to own such a charmingcreature, " regarding the slender white shape with muchapprobation, --adding, with a smile, as she met the girl's eye, -- "Ah, I see the difficulty, now; you are disturbed because there is nota bit of lace over these pretty shoulders of yours. Now don't beabsurd, Dora; the dress is perfectly proper, or Madame Tiphany neverwould have sent it home. It is the fashion, child; and many a girl withsuch a figure would go twice as decolletee, and think nothing of it, Iassure you. " Debby shook her head with an energy that set the pink heather-bellsa-tremble in her hair, and her color deepened beautifully as she said, with reproachful eyes, -- "Aunt Pen, I think there is a better fashion in every young girl'sheart than any Madame Tiphany can teach. I am very grateful for allyou have done for me, but I cannot go into public in such an undress asthis; my mother would never allow it, and father never forgive it. Please don't ask me to, for indeed I cannot do it even for you. " Debby looked so pathetic that both mistress and maid broke into a laughwhich somewhat reassured the young lady, who allowed her determinedfeatures to relax into a smile, as she said, -- "Now, Aunt Pen, you want me to look pretty and be a credit to you; buthow would you like to see my face the color of those geraniums all theevening?" "Why, Dora, you are out of your mind to ask such a thing, when you knowit's the desire of my life to keep your color down and make you lookmore delicate, " said her aunt, alarmed at the fearful prospect of apeony-faced protegee. "Well, I should be anything but that, if I wore this gown in itspresent waistless condition; so here is a remedy which will preventsuch a calamity and ease my mind. " As she spoke, Debby tied on her little blonde fichu with a gesturewhich left nothing more to be said. Victorine scolded, and clasped her hands; but Mrs. Carroll, fearing topush her authority too far, made a virtue of necessity, saying, resignedly, -- "Have your own way, Dora, but in return oblige me by being agreeable tosuch persons as I may introduce to you; and some day, when I ask afavor, remember how much I hope to do for you, and grant it cheerfully. " "Indeed I will, Aunt Pen, if it is anything I can do without disobeyingmother's 'notions' as you call them. Ask me to wear an orange-coloredgown, or dance with the plainest, poorest man in the room, and I'll doit; for there never was a kinder aunt than mine in all the world, "cried Debby, eager to atone for her seeming wilfulness, and reallygrateful for her escape from what seemed to her benighted mind a veryimminent peril. Like a clover-blossom in a vase of camellias little Debby looked thatnight among the dashing or languid women who surrounded her; for shepossessed the charm they had lost, --the freshness of her youth. Innocent gayety sat smiling in her eyes, healthful roses bloomed uponher cheek, and maiden modesty crowned her like a garland. She was thecreature that she seemed, and, yielding to the influence of the hour, danced to the music of her own blithe heart. Many felt the spell whosesecret they had lost the power to divine, and watched the girlishfigure as if it were a symbol of their early aspirations dawningfreshly from the dimness of their past. More than one old man thoughtagain of some little maid whose love made his boyish days a pleasantmemory to him now. More than one smiling fop felt the emptiness of hissmooth speech, when the truthful eyes looked up into his own; and morethan one pale woman sighed regretfully with herself, "I, too, was ahappy-hearted creature once!" "That Mr. Evan does not seem very anxious to claim our acquaintance, after all, and I think better of him on that account. Has he spoken toyou to-night, Dora?" asked Mrs. Carroll, as Debby dropped down besideher after a "splendid polka. " "No, ma'am, he only bowed. You see some people are not so presuming asother people thought they were; for we are not the most attractivebeings on the planet; therefore a gentleman can be polite and thenforget us without breaking any of the Ten Commandments. Don't beoffended with him yet, for he may prove to be some great creature witha finer pedigree than any of your first families. ' Mr. Leavenworth, asyou know everybody, perhaps you can relieve Aunt Pen's mind, by tellingher something about the tall, brown man standing behind the lady withsalmon-colored hair. " Mr. Joe, who was fanning the top of Debby's head with the bestintentions in life, took a survey, and answered readily, -- "Why, that's Frank Evan. I know him, and a deused good fellow heis, --though he don't belong to our set, you know. " "Indeed! pray, tell us something about him, Mr. Leavenworth. We met inthe cars, and he did us a favor or two. Who and what is the man?"asked Mrs. Carroll, relenting at once toward a person who was favorablyspoken of by one who did belong to her "set. " "Well, let me see, " began Mr. Joe, whose narrative powers were notgreat. "He is a bookkeeper in my Uncle Josh Loring's importing concern, and a powerful smart man, they say. There's some kind of clever storyabout his father's leaving a load of debts, and Frank's working adeused number of years till they were paid. Good of him, wasn't it?Then, just as he was going to take things easier and enjoy life a bit, his mother died, and that rather knocked him up, you see. He fellsick, and came to grief generally, Uncle Josh said; so he was orderedoff to get righted, and here he is, looking like a tombstone. I've aregard for Frank, for he took care of me through the smallpox a yearago, and I don't forget things of that sort; so, if you wish to beintroduced, Mrs. Carroll, I'll trot him out with pleasure, and make aproud man of him. " Mrs. Carroll glanced at Debby, and as that young lady was regarding Mr. Joe with a friendly aspect, owing to the warmth of his words, shegraciously assented, and the youth departed on his errand. Mr. Evanwent through the ceremony with a calmness wonderful to behold, considering the position of one lady and the charms of the other, andsoon glided into the conversation with the ease of a most accomplishedcourtier. "Now I must tear myself away, for I'm engaged to that stout MissBandoline for this dance. She's a friend of my sister's, and I must dothe civil, you know; powerful slow work it is, too, but I pity the poorsoul, --upon my life, I do;" and Mr. Joe assumed the air of a martyr. Debby looked up with a wicked smile in her eyes, as she said, -- "Ah, that sounds very amiable here; but in five minutes you'll bemurmuring in Miss Bandoline's earm--'I've been pining to come to youthis half hour, but I was obliged to take out that Miss Wilder, yousee--countrified little thing enough, but not bad-looking, and has arich aunt; so I've done my duty to her, but deuse take me if I canstand it any longer. " Mr. Evan joined in Debby's merriment; but Mr. Joe was so appalled atthe sudden attack that he could only stammer a remonstrance and beat ahasty retreat, wondering how on earth she came to know that hisfavorite style of making himself agreeable to one young lady was bydecrying another. "Dora, my love, that is very rude, and 'Deuse' is not a properexpression for a woman's lips. Pray, restrain your lively tongue, forstrangers may not understand that it is nothing but the sprightlinessof your disposition which sometimes runs away with you. " "It was only a quotation, and I thought you would admire anything Mr. Leavenworth said, Aunt Pen, " replied Debby, demurely. Mrs. Carroll trod on her foot, and abruptly changed the conversation, by saying, with an appearance of deep interest, -- "Mr. Evan, you are doubtless connected with the Malcoms of Georgia; forthey, I believe, are descended from the ancient Evans of Scotland. Theyare a very wealthy and aristocratic family, and I remember seeing theircoat-of-arms once: three bannocks and a thistle. " Mr. Evan had been standing before them with a composure which impressedMrs. Carroll with a belief in his gentle blood, for she remembered herown fussy, plebeian husband, whose fortune had never been able topurchase him the manners of a gentleman. Mr. Evan only grew a littlemore erect, as he replied, with an untroubled mien, -- "I cannot claim relationship with the Malcoms of Georgia or the Evansof Scotland, I believe, Madam. My father was a farmer, my grandfathera blacksmith, and beyond that my ancestors may have beenstreet-sweepers, for anything I know; but whatever they were, I fancythey were honest men, for that has always been our boast, though, likePresident Jackson's, our coat-of-arms is nothing but 'a pair ofshirt-sleeves. '" From Debby's eyes there shot a bright glance of admiration for theyoung man who could look two comely women in the face and serenely ownthat he was poor. Mrs. Carroll tried to appear at ease, and, glidingout of personalities, expatiated on the comfort of "living in a landwhere fame and fortune were attainable by all who chose to earn them, "and the contempt she felt for those "who had no sympathy with thehumbler classes, no interest in the welfare of the race, " and many moremoral reflections as new and original as the Multiplication-Table orthe Westminster Catechism. To all of which Mr. Evan listened withpolite deference, though there was something in the keen intelligenceof his eye that made Debby blush for shallow Aunt Pen, and rejoice whenthe good lady got out of her depth and seized upon a new subject as adrowning mariner would a hen-coop. "Dora, Mr. Ellenborough is coming this way; you have danced with himbut once, and he is a very desirable partner; so, pray, accept, if heasks you, " said Mrs. Carroll, watching a far-off individual who seemedsteering his zigzag course toward them. "I never intend to dance with Mr. Ellenborough again, so please don'turge me, Aunt Pen;" and Debby knit her brows with a somewhat irateexpression. "My love, you astonish me! He is a most agreeable and accomplishedyoung man, --spent three years in Paris, moves in the first circles, andis considered an ornament to fashionable society. "What can be your objection, Dora?" cried Mrs. Carroll, looking asalarmed as if her niece had suddenly announced her belief in the Koran. "One of his accomplishments consists in drinking champagne till he isnot a 'desirable partner' for any young lady with a prejudice in favorof decency. His moving in 'circles' is just what I complain of; and ifhe is an ornament, I prefer my society undecorated. Aunt Pen, I cannotmake the nice distinctions you would have me, and a sot in broadclothis as odious as one in rags. Forgive me, but I cannot dance with thatsilver-labelled decanter again. " Debby was a genuine little piece of womanhood; and though she tried tospeak lightly, her color deepened, as she remembered looks that hadwounded her like insults, and her indignant eyes silenced the excusesrising to her aunt's lips. Mrs. Carroll began to rue the hour she everundertook the guidance of Sister Deborah's headstrong child, and for aninstant heartily wished she had left her to bloom unseen in the shadowof the parsonage; but she concealed her annoyance, still hoping toovercome the girl's absurd resolve, by saying, mildly, -- "As you please, dear; but if you refuse Mr. Ellenborough, you will beobliged to sit through the dance, which is your favorite, you know. " Debby's countenance fell, for she had forgotten that, and the Lancerswas to her the crowning rapture of the night. She paused a moment, andAunt Pen brightened; but Debby made her little sacrifice to principleas heroically as many a greater one had been made, and, with a wistfullook down the long room, answered steadily, though her foot kept timeto the first strains as she spoke, -- "Then I will sit, Aunt Pen; for that is preferable to staggering aboutthe room with a partner who has no idea of the laws of gravitation. " "Shall I have the honor of averting either calamity?" said Mr. Evan, coming to the rescue with a devotion beautiful to see; for dancing wasnearly a lost art with him, and the Lancers to a novice is equal to asecond Labyrinth of Crete. "Oh, thank you!" cried Debby, tumbling fan, bouquet, and handkerchiefinto Mrs. Carroll's lap, with a look of relief that repaid him fourfoldfor the trials he was about to undergo. They went merrily awaytogether, leaving Aunt Pen to wish that it was according to the laws ofetiquette to rap officious gentlemen over the knuckles, when theyintroduce their fingers into private pies without permission from thechief cook. How the dance went Debby hardly knew, for the conversationfell upon books, and in the interest of her favorite theme she foundeven the "grand square" an impertinent interruption, while her owndeficiences became almost as great as her partner's; yet, when themusic ended with a flourish, and her last curtsy was successfullyachieved, she longed to begin all over again, and secretly regrettedthat she was engaged four deep. "How do you like our new acquaintance, Dora?" asked Aunt Pen, followingJoe Leavenworth with her eye, as the "yellow-haired laddie" whirled bywith the ponderous Miss Flora. "Very much; and I'm glad we met as we did, for it makes things free andeasy, and that is so agreeable in this ceremonious place, " repliedDebby, looking in quite an opposite direction. "Well, I'm delighted to hear you say so, dear, for I was afraid you hadtaken a dislike to him, and he is really a very charming young man, just the sort of person to make a pleasant companion for a few weeks. These little friendships are part of the summer's amusement, and do noharm; so smile away. Dora, and enjoy yourself while you may. " "Yes, Aunt, I certainly will, and all the more because I have found asensible soul to talk to. Do you know, he is very witty and wellinformed, though he says he never had much time for self-cultivation?But I think trouble makes people wise, and he seems to have had a gooddeal, though he leaves it for others to tell of. I am glad you arewilling I should know him, for I shall enjoy talking about my petheroes with him as a relief from the silly chatter I must keep up mostof the time. " Mrs. Carroll was a woman of one idea; and though a slightly puzzledexpression appeared in her face, she listened approvingly, andanswered, with a gracious smile, -- "Of course, I should not object to your knowing such a person, my love;but I'd no idea Joe Leavenworth was a literary man, or had known muchtrouble, except his father's death and his sister Clementina'srunaway-marriage with her drawing-master. " Debby opened her brown eyes very wide, and hastily picked at the downon her fan, but had no time to correct her aunt's mistake, for the realsubject of her commendations appeared at that moment, and Mrs. Carollwas immediately absorbed in the consumption of a large pink ice. "That girl is what I call a surprise-party, now, " remarked Mr. Joeconfidentially to his cigar, as he pulled off his coat and stuck hisfeet up in the privacy of his own apartment. "She looks as mild asstrawberries and cream till you come to the complimentary, then sheturns on a fellow with that deused satirical look of hers, and makeshim feel like a fool. I'll try the moral dodge to-morrow and see whateffect that will have; for she is mighty taking, and I must amusemyself somehow, you know. " "How many years will it take to change that fresh-hearted little girlinto a fashionable belle, I wonder?" thought Frank Evan, as he climbedthe four flights that led to his "sky-parlor. " "What a curious world this is!" mused Debby, with her nightcap in herhand. "The right seems odd and rude, the wrong respectable and easy, and this sort of life a merry-go-round, with no higher aim thanpleasure. Well, I have made my Declaration of Independence, and AuntPen must be ready for a Revolution if she taxes me too heavily. " As she leaned her hot cheek on her arm, Debby's eye fell on the quaintlittle cap made by the motherly hands that never were tired of workingfor her. She touched it tenderly, and love's simple magic swept thegathering shadows from her face, and left it clear again, as herthoughts flew home like birds into the shelter of their nest. "Good night, mother! I'll face temptation steadily. I'll try to takelife cheerily, and do nothing that shall make your dear face areproach, when it looks into my own again. " Then Debby said her prayers like any pious child, and lay down to dreamof pulling buttercups with Baby Bess, and singing in the twilight onher father's knee. The history of Debby's first day might serve as a sample of most thatfollowed, as week after week went by with varying pleasures andincreasing interest to more than one young debutante. Mrs. Carroll did her best, but Debby was too simple for a belle, toohonest for a flirt, too independent for a fine lady; she would benothing but her sturdy little self, open as daylight, gay as a lark, and blunt as any Puritan. Poor Aunt Pen was in despair, till sheobserved that the girl often "took" with the very peculiarities whichshe was lamenting; this somewhat consoled her, and she tried to makethe best of the pretty bit of homespun which would not and could notbecome velvet or brocade. Seguin, Ellenborough, & Co. Looked withlordly scorn upon her, as a worm blind to their attractions. MissMacRimsy and her "set" quizzed her unmercifully behind her back, afterbeing worsted in several passages of arms; and more than one successfulmamma condoled with Aunt Pen upon the terribly defective education ofher charge, till that stout matron could have found it in her heart totweak off their caps and walk on them, like the irascible BetseyTrotwood. But Debby had a circle of admirers who loved her with a sincerity fewsummer queens could boast; for they were real friends, won by gentlearts, and retained by the gracious sweetness of her nature. Moon-facedbabies crowed and clapped their chubby hands when she passed by theirwicker-thrones; story-loving children clustered round her knee, andnever were denied; pale invalids found wild-flowers on their pillows;and forlorn papas forgot the state of the moneymarket when she sang forthem the homely airs their daughters had no time to learn. Certainplain young ladies poured their woes into her friendly ear, and werecomforted; several smart Sophomores fell into a state of chronicstammer, blush, and adoration, when she took a motherly interest intheir affairs; and a melancholy old Frenchman blessed her with theenthusiasm of his nation, because she put a posy in the button-hole ofhis rusty coat, and never failed to smile and bow as he passed by. YetDebby was no Edgworth heroine preternaturally prudent, wise, anduntemptable; she had a fine crop of piques, vanities, and dislikesgrowing up under this new style of cultivation. She loved admiration, enjoyed her purple and fine linen, hid new-born envy, disappointedhope, and wounded pride behind a smiling face, and often thought with asigh of the humdrum duties that awaited her at home. But under theairs and graces Aunt Pen cherished with such sedulous care, under theflounces and furbelows Victorine daily adjusted with groans, under thepolish which she acquired with feminine ease, the girl's heart stillbeat steadfast and strong, and conscience kept watch and ward that notraitor should enter in to surprise the citadel which mother-love hadtried to garrison so well. In pursuance of his sage resolve, Mr. Joe tried the "moral dodge, " ashe elegantly expressed it, and, failing in that, followed it up withthe tragic, religious, negligent, and devoted ditto; but acting was nothis forte, so Debby routed him in all; and at last, when he was at hiswit's end for an idea, she suggested one, and completed her victory bysaying pleasantly, -- "You took me behind the curtain too soon, and now the paste-diamondsand cotton-velvet don't impose upon me a bit. Just be your naturalself, and we shall get on nicely, Mr. Leavenworth. " The novelty of the proposal struck his fancy, and after a few relapsesit was carried into effect and thenceforth, with Debby, he became thesimple, good-humored lad Nature designed him to be, and, as a proof ofit, soon fell very sincerely in love. Frank Evan, seated in the parquet of society, surveyed the dress-circlewith much the same expression that Debby had seen during Aunt Pen'soration; but he soon neglected that amusement to watch several actorsin the drama going on before his eyes, while a strong desire to performa part therein slowly took possession of his mind. Debby always had a look of welcome when he came, always treated himwith the kindness of a generous woman who has had an opportunity toforgive, and always watched the serious, solitary man with a greatcompassion for his loss, a growing admiration for his upright life. More than once the beach-birds saw two figures pacing the sands atsunrise with the peace of early day upon their faces and the light of akindred mood shining in their eyes. More than once the friendly oceanmade a third in the pleasant conversation, and its low undertone cameand went between the mellow bass and silvery treble of the human voiceswith a melody that lent another charm to interviews which soon grewwondrous sweet to man and maid. Aunt Pen seldom saw the twaintogether, seldom spoke of Evan; and Debby held her peace, for, when sheplanned to make her innocent confessions, she found that what seemedmuch to her was nothing to another ear and scarcely worth the telling;so, unconscious as yet whither the green path led, she went on her way, leading two lives, one rich and earnest, hoarded deep within herself, the other frivolous and gay for all the world to criticize. But thosevenerable spinsters, the Fates, took the matter into their own hands, and soon got the better of those short-sighted matrons, Mesdames Grundyand Carroll; for, long before they knew it, Frank and Debby had begunto read together a book greater than Dickens ever wrote, and when theyhad come to the fairest part of the sweet story Adam first told Eve, they looked for the name upon the title-page, and found that it was"Love. " Fight weeks came and went, --eight wonderfully happy weeks to Debby andher friend; for "propinquity" had worked more wonders than poor Mrs. Carroll knew, as the only one she saw or guessed was the uttercaptivation of Joe Leavenworth. He had become "himself" to such anextent that a change of identity would have been a relief; for theobject of his adoration showed no signs of relenting, and he began tofear, that, as Debby said, her heart was "not in the market. " She wasalways friendly, but never made those interesting betrayals of regardwhich are so encouraging to youthful gentlemen "who fain would climb, yet fear to fall. " She never blushed when he pressed her hand, neverfainted or grew pale when he appeared with a smashed trotting-wagon andblack eye, and actually slept through a serenade that would have wonany other woman's soul out of her body with its despairing quavers. Matters were getting desperate; for horses lost their charms, "flowingbowls" palled upon his lips, ruffled shirt-bosoms no longer delightedhim, and hops possessed no soothing power to allay the anguish of hismind. Mr. Seguin, after unavailing ridicule and pity, took compassionon him, and from his large experience suggested a remedy, just as hewas departing for a more congenial sphere. "Now don't be an idiot, Joe, but, if you want to keep your hand in andgo through a regular chapter of flirtation, just right about face, anddevote yourself to some one else. Nothing like jealousy to teachwomankind their own minds, and a touch of it will bring little Wilderround in a jiffy. Try it, my boy, and good luck to you!"--with whichChristian advice Mr. Seguin slapped his pupil on the shoulder, anddisappeared, like a modern Mephistopheles, in a cloud of cigar-smoke. "I'm glad he's gone, for in my present state of mind he's not up to mymark at all. I'll try his plan, though, and flirt with Clara West;she's engaged, so it won't damage her affections; her lover isn't here, so it won't disturb his; and, by Jove! I must do something, for Ican't stand this suspense. " Debby was infinitely relieved by this new move, and infinitely amusedas she guessed the motive that prompted it; but the more contented sheseemed, the more violently Mr. Joe flirted with her rival, till at lastweak-minded Miss Clara began to think her absent George the mostundesirable of lovers, and to mourn that she ever said "Yes" to amerchant's clerk, when she might have said it to a merchant's son. Aunt Pen watched and approved this stratagem, hoped for the bestresults, and believed the day won when Debby grew pale and silent, andfollowed with her eyes the young couple who were playing battledore andshuttle-cock with each other's hearts, as if she took some interest inthe game. But Aunt Pen clashed her cymbals too soon; for Debby'strouble had a better source than jealousy, and in the silence of thesleepless nights that stole her bloom she was taking counsel of her ownfull heart, and resolving to serve another woman as she would herselfbe served in a like peril, though etiquette was outraged and thecustoms of polite society turned upside down. "Look, Aunt Pen! what lovely shells and moss I've got! Such a splendidscramble over the rocks as I've had with Mrs. Duncan's boys! It seemedso like home to run and sing with a troop of topsy-turvy children thatit did me good; and I wish you had all been there to see. " cried Debby, running into the drawing-room, one day, where Mrs. Carroll and a circleof ladies sat enjoying a dish of highly flavored scandal, as theyexercised their eyesight over fancy-work. "My dear Dora, spare my nerves; and if you have any regard for theproprieties of life, don't go romping in the sun with a parcel of noisyboys. If you could see what an object you are, I think you would tryto imitate Miss Clara, who is always a model of elegant repose. " Miss West primmed up her lips, and settled a fold in her ninth flounce, as Mrs. Carroll spoke, while the whole group fixed their eyes withdignified disapproval on the invader of their refined society. Debbyhad come like a fresh wind into a sultry room; but no one welcomed thehealthful visitant, no one saw a pleasant picture in the bright-facedgirl with windtossed hair and rustic hat heaped with moss andmany-tinted shells; they only saw that her gown was wet, her glovesforgotten, and her scarf trailing at her waist in a manner no well-bredlady could approve. The sunshine faded out of Debby's face, and therewas a touch of bitterness in her tone, as she glanced at the circle offashion-plates, saying with an earnestness which caused Miss West toopen her pale eyes to their widest extent, -- "Aunt Pen, don't freeze me yet, --don't take away my faith in simplethings, but let me be a child a little longer, --let me play and singand keep my spirit blithe among the dandelions and the robins while Ican; for trouble comes soon enough, and all my life will be the richerand the better for a happy youth. " Mrs. Carroll had nothing at hand to offer in reply to this appeal, andfour ladies dropped their work to stare; but Frank Evan looked in fromthe piazza, saying, as he beckoned like a boy, -- "I'll play with you, Miss Dora; come and make sand pies upon the shore. Please let her, Mrs. Carroll; we'll be very good, and not wet ourpinafores or feet. " Without waiting for permission, Debby poured her treasures into the lapof a certain lame Freddy, and went away to a kind of play she had neverknown before. Quiet as a chidden child, she walked beside hercompanion, who looked down at the little figure, longing to take it onhis knee and call the sunshine back again. That he dared not do; butaccident, the lover's friend, performed the work, and did him a goodturn beside. The old Frenchman was slowly approaching, when afrolicsome wind whisked off his hat and sent it skimming along thebeach. In spite of her late lecture, away went Debby, and caught thetruant chapeau just as a wave was hurrying up to claim it. Thisrestored her cheerfulness, and when she returned, she was herself again. "A thousand thanks; but does Mademoiselle remember the forfeit I mightdemand to add to the favor she has already done me?" asked the gallantold gentleman, as Debby took the hat off her own head, and presented itwith a martial salute. "Ah, I had forgotten that; but you may claim [text missing in originalcopy] do something more to give you pleasure;" and Debby looked up intothe withered face which had grown familiar to her, with kind eyes, fullof pity and respect. Her manner touched the old man very much; he bent his gray head beforeher, saying, gratefully, -- "My child, I am not good enough to salute these blooming checks; but Ishall pray the Virgin to reward you for the compassion you bestow onthe poor exile, and I shall keep your memory very green through all mylife. " He kissed her hand, as if it were a queen's, and went on his way, thinking of the little daughter whose death left him childless in aforeign land. Debby softly began to sing, "Oh, come unto the yellow sands!" butstopped in the middle of a line, to say, -- "Shall I tell you why I did what Aunt Pen would call a very unladylikeand improper thing, Mr. Evans?" "If you will be so kind;" and her companion looked delighted at theconfidence about to be reposed in him. "Somewhere across this great wide sea I hope I have a brother, " Debbysaid, with softened voice and a wistful look into the dim horizon. "Five years ago he left us, and we have never heard from him since, except to know that he landed safely in Australia. People tell us heis dead; but I believe he will yet come home; and so I love to help andpity any man who needs it, rich or poor, young or old, hoping that as Ido by them some tender-hearted woman far away will do by Brother Will. " As Debby spoke, across Frank Evan's face there passed the look thatseldom comes but once to any young man's countenance; for suddenly themoment dawned when love asserted its supremacy, and putting pride, doubt, and fear underneath its feet, ruled the strong heart royally andbent it to its will. Debby's thoughts had floated across the sea; butthey came swiftly back when her companion spoke again, steadily andslow, but with a subtile change in tone and manner which arrested themat once. "Miss Dora, if you should meet a man who had known a laborious youth, asolitary manhood, who had no sweet domestic ties to make home beautifuland keep his nature warm, who longed most ardently to be so blessed, and made it the aim of his life to grow more worthy the good gift, should it ever come, --if you should learn that you possessed the powerto make this fellow-creature's happiness, could you find it in yourgentle heart to take compassion on him for the love of 'Brother Will'?" Debby was silent, wondering why heart and nerves and brain were stirredby such a sudden thrill, why she dared not look up, and why, when shedesired so much to speak, she could only answer, in a voice thatsounded strange to her own ears, -- "I cannot tell. " Still, steadily and slow, with strong emotion deepening and softeninghis voice, the lover at her side went on, -- "Will you ask yourself this question in some quiet hour? For such aman has lived in the sunshine of your presence for eight happy weeks, and now, when his holiday is done, he finds that the old solitude willbe more sorrowful than ever, unless he can discover whether his summerdream will change into a beautiful reality. Miss Dora, I have verylittle to offer you; a faithful heart to cherish you, a strong arm towork for you, an honest name to give into your keeping, --these are all;but if they have any worth in your eyes, they are most truly yoursforever. " Debby was steadying her voice to reply, when a troop of bathers cameshouting down the bank, and she took flight into her dressing-room, there to sit staring at the wall, till the advent of Aunt Pen forcedher to resume the business of the hour by assuming her aquatic attireand stealing shyly down into the surf. Frank Evan, still pacing in the footprints they had lately made, watched the lithe figure tripping to and fro, and, as he looked, murmured to himself the last line of a ballad Debby sometimes sang, -- "Dance light! for my heart it lies under your feet, love!" Presently a great wave swept Debby up, and stranded her very near him, much to her confusion and his satisfaction. Shaking the spray out ofher eyes, she was hurrying away, when Frank said, -- "You will trip, Miss Dora; let me tie these strings for you;" and, suiting the action to the word, he knelt down and began to fasten thecords of her bathing shoe. Debby stood Looking down at the tall head bent before her, with acurious sense of wonder that a look from her could make a strong manflush and pale, as he had done; and she was trying to concoct somefriendly speech, when Frank, still fumbling at the knots, said, veryearnestly and low, -- "Forgive me, if I am selfish in pressing for an answer; but I must goto-morrow, and a single word will change my whole future for the betteror the worse. Won't you speak it, Dora?" If they had been alone, Debby would have put her arms about his neck, and said it with all her heart; but she had a presentiment that sheshould cry, if her love found vent; and here forty pairs of eyes wereon them, and salt water seemed superfluous. Besides, Debby had notbreathed the air of coquetry so long without a touch of the infection;and the love of power, that lies dormant in the meekest woman's breast, suddenly awoke and tempted her. "If you catch me before I reach that rock, perhaps I will say 'Yes, '"was her unexpected answer; and before her lover caught her meaning, shewas floating leisurely away. Frank was not in bathing-costume, and Debby never dreamed that he wouldtake her at her word; but she did not know the man she had to dealwith; for, taking no second thought, he flung hat and coat away, anddashed into the sea. This gave a serious aspect to Debby's foolishjest. A feeling of dismay seized her, when she saw a resolute facedividing the waves behind her, and thought of the rash challenge shehad given; but she had a spirit of her own, and had profited well byMr. Joe's instructions: so she drew a long breath, and swam as if forlife, instead of love. Evan was incumbered by his clothing, and Debbyhad much the start of him; but, like a second Leander, he hoped to winhis Hero, and, lending every muscle to the work, gained rapidly uponthe little hat which was his beacon through the foam. Debby heard thedeep breathing drawing nearer and nearer, as her pursuer's strong armscleft the water and sent it rippling past her lips, something liketerror took possession of her; for the strength seemed going out of herlimbs, and the rock appeared to recede before her; but theunconquerable blood of the Pilgrims was in her veins, and "Nildesperandum" her motto; so, setting her teeth, she muttered, defiantly, -- "I'll not be beaten, if I go to the bottom!" A great splashing arose, and when Evan recovered the use of his eyes, the pagoda-hat had taken a sudden turn, and seemed making for thefarthest point of the goal. "I am sure of her now, " thought Frank; and, like a gallant seagod, he bore down upon his prize, clutching it with ashout of triumph. But the hat was empty, and like a mocking echo cameDebby's laugh, as she climbed, exhausted, to a cranny in the rock. "A very neat thing, by Jove! Deuse take me if you a'n't 'an honor toyour teacher, and a terror to the foe, ' Miss Wilder, " cried Mr. Joe, ashe came up from a solitary cruise and dropped anchor at her side. "Here, bring along the hat, Evan; I'm going to crown the victor withappropriate what-d'ye-call-'ems, " he continued, pulling a handful ofsea-weed that looked like well-boiled greens. Frank came up, smiling; but his lips were white, and in his eye a lookDebby could not meet; so, being full of remorse, she naturally assumedan air of gayety, and began to sing the merriest air she knew, merelybecause she longed to throw herself upon the stones and cry violently. "It was 'most as exciting as a regatta, and you pulled well, Evan; butyou had too much ballast aboard, and Miss Wilder ran up false colorsjust in time to save her ship. What was the wager?" asked the livelyJoseph, complacently surveying his marine millinery, which would havescandalized a fashionable mermaid. "Only a trifle, " answered Debby, knotting up her braids with arevengeful jerk. "It's taken the wind out of your sails, I fancy, Evan, for you lookimmensely Byronic with the starch minus in your collar and your hair ina poetic toss. Come, I'll try a race with you; and Miss Wilder willdance all the evening with the winner. Bless the man, what's he doingdown there? Burying sunfish, hey?" Frank had been sitting below them on a narrow strip of sand, absentlypiling up a little mound that bore some likeness to a grave. As hiscompanion spoke, he looked at it, and a sudden flush of feeling sweptacross his face, as he replied, -- "No, only a dead hope. " "Deuse take it, yes, a good many of that sort of craft founder in thesewaters, as I know to my sorrow;" and, sighing tragically. Mr. Joeturned to help Debby from her perch, but she had glided silently intothe sea, and was gone. For the next four hours the poor girl suffered the sharpest pain shehad ever known; for now she clearly saw the strait her folly hadbetrayed her into. Frank Evan was a proud man, and would not ask herlove again, believing she had tacitly refused it; and how could shetell him that she had trifled with the heart she wholly loved andlonged to make her own? She could not confide in Aunt Pen, for thatworldly lady would have no sympathy to bestow. She longed for hermother; but there was no time to write, for Frank was going on themorrow, --might even then be gone; and as this fear came over her, shecovered up her face and wished that she were dead. Poor Debby! herlast mistake was sadder than her first, and she was reaping a bitterharvest from her summer's sowing. She sat and thought till her cheeksburned and her temples throbbed; but she dared not ease her pain withtears. The gong sounded like a Judgment-Day trump of doom, and shetrembled at the idea of confronting many eyes with such a telltaleface; but she could not stay behind, for Aunt Pen must know the cause. She tried to play her hard part well; but wherever she looked, somefresh anxiety appeared, as if every fault and folly of those months hadblossomed suddenly within the hour. She saw Frank Evan more sombre andmore solitary than when she met him first, and cried regretfully withinherself, "How could I so forget the truth I owed him?"--She saw ClaraWest watching with eager eyes for the coming of young Leavenworth, andsighed, --"This is the fruit of my wicked vanity!" She saw Aunt Penregarded her with an anxious face, and longed to say, "Forgive me, forI have not been sincere!" At last, as her trouble grew, she resolved togo away and have a quiet "think, "--a remedy which had served her inmany a lesser perplexity; so, stealing out, she went to a grove ofcedars usually deserted at that hour. But in ten minutes JoeLeavenworth appeared at the door of the summer house, and, looking in, said, with a well-acted start of pleasure and surprise, -- "Beg pardon, I thought there was no one here, My dear Miss Wilder, youlook contemplative; but I fancy it wouldn't do to ask the subject ofyour meditations, would it?" He paused with such an evident intention of remaining that Debbyresolved to make use of the moment, and ease her conscience of one carethat burdened it; therefore she answered his question with her usualdirectness, -- "My meditations were partly about you. " Mr. Joe was guilty of the weakness of blushing violently and lookingimmensely gratified; but his rapture was of short duration, for Debbywent on very earnestly, -- "I believe I am going to do what you may consider a very impertinentthing; but I would rather be unmannerly than unjust to others or untrueto my own sense of right. Mr. Leavenworth, if you were an older man, Ishould not dare to say this to you; but I have brothers of my own, and, remembering how many unkind things they do for want of thought, Iventure to remind you that a woman's heart is a perilous plaything, andtoo tender to be used for a selfish purpose or an hour's pleasure. Iknow this kind of amusement is not considered wrong; but it is wrong, and I cannot shut my eyes to the fact, or sit silent while anotherwoman is allowed to deceive herself and wound the heart that trustsher. Oh, if you love your own sisters, be generous, be just, and do notdestroy that poor girl's happiness, but go away before your sportbecomes a bitter pain to her!" Joe Leavenworth had stood staring at Debby with a troubled countenance, feeling as if all the misdemeanors of his life were about to be paradedbefore him; but, as he listened to her plea, the womanly spirit thatprompted it appealed more loudly than her words, and in his reallygenerous heart he felt regret for what had never seemed a fault before. Shallow as he was, nature was stronger than education, and he admiredand accepted what many a wiser, worldlier man would have resented withanger or contempt. He loved Debby with all his little might; he meantto tell her so, and graciously present his fortune and himself for heracceptance; but now, when the moment came, the well-turned speech hehad prepared vanished from his memory, and with the better eloquence offeeling he blundered out his passion like a very boy. "Miss Dora, I never meant to make trouble between Clara and her lover;upon my soul, I didn't, and wish Seguin had not put the notion into myhead, since it has given you pain. I only tried to pique you intoshowing some regret, when I neglected you; but you didn't, and then Igot desperate and didn't care what became of any one. Oh, Dora, if youknew how much I loved you, I am sure you'd forgive it, and let me provemy repentance by giving up everything that you dislike. I mean what Isay; upon my life I do; and I'll keep my word, if you will only let mehope. " If Debby had wanted a proof of her love for Frank Evan, she might havefound it in the fact that she had words enough at her command now, andno difficulty in being sisterly pitiful toward her second suitor. "Please get up, " she said; for Mr. Joe, feeling very humble and veryearnest, had gone down upon his knees, and sat there entirelyregardless of his personal appearance. He obeyed; and Debby stood looking up at him with her kindest aspect, as she said, more tenderly than she had ever spoken to him before, -- "Thank you for the affection you offer me, but I cannot accept it, forI have nothing to give you in return but the friendliest regard, themost sincere good-will. I know you will forgive me, and do for yourown sake the good things you would have done for mine, that I may addto my esteem a real respect for one who has been very kind to me. " "I'll try, --indeed, I will, Miss Dora, though it will be powerful hardwithout yourself for a help and a reward. " Poor Joe choked a little, but called up an unexpected manliness, andadded, stoutly, -- "Don't think I shall be offended at your speaking so or saying 'No' tome, --not a bit; it's all right, and I'm much obliged to you. I mighthave known you couldn't care for such a fellow as I am, and don't blameyou, for nobody in the world is good enough for you. I'll go away atonce, I'll try to keep my promise, and I hope you'll be very happy allyour life. " He shook Debby's bands heartily, and hurried down the steps, but at thebottom paused and looked back. Debby stood upon the threshold withsunshine dancing on her winsome face, and kind words trembling on herlips; for the moment it seemed impossible to part, and, with animpetuous gesture, he cried to her, -- "Oh, Dora, let me stay and try to win you! for everything is possibleto love, and I never knew how dear you were to me till now!" There were sudden tears in the young man's eyes, the flush of a genuineemotion on his cheek, the tremor of an ardent longing in his voice, and, for the first time, a very true affection strengthened his wholecountenance. Debby's heart was full of penitence; she had given somuch pain to more than one that she longed to atone for it--longed todo some very friendly thing, and soothe some trouble such as sheherself had known. She looked into the eager face uplifted to her ownand thought of Will, then stooped and touched her lover's forehead withthe lips that softly whispered, "No. " If she had cared for him, she never would have done it; poor Joe knewthat, and murmuring an incoherent "Thank you!" he rushed away, feelingvery much as he remembered to have felt when his baby sister died andhe wept his grief away upon his mother's neck. He began hispreparations for departure at once, in a burst of virtuous energy quiterefreshing to behold, thinking within himself, as he flung hiscigar-case into the grate, kicked a billiard-ball into a corner, andsuppressed his favorite allusion to the Devil, -- "This is a new sort of thing to me, but I can bear it, and upon my lifeI think I feel the better for it already. " And so he did; for though he was no Augustine to turn in an hour fromworldly hopes and climb to sainthood through long years of inwardstrife, yet in aftertimes no one knew how many false steps had beensaved, how many small sins repented of, through the power of the memorythat far away a generous woman waited to respect him, and in his secretsoul he owned that one of the best moments of his life was that inwhich little Debby Wilder whispered "No, " and kissed him. As he passed from sight, the girl leaned her head upon her hand, thinking sorrowfully to herself, -- "What right had I to censure him, when my own actions are so far fromtrue? I have done a wicked thing, and as an honest girl I should undoit, if I can. I have broken through the rules of a false propriety forClara's sake; can I not do as much for Frank's? I will. I'll find him, if I search the house, --and tell him all, though I never dare to lookhim in the face again, and Aunt Pen sends me home to-morrow. " Full of zeal and courage, Debby caught up her hat and ran down thesteps, but, as she saw Frank Evan coming up the path, a sudden panicfell upon her, and she could only stand mutely waiting his approach. It is asserted that Love is blind; and on the strength of that populardelusion novel heroes and heroines go blundering through three volumesof despair with the plain truth directly under their absurd noses: butin real life this theory is not supported; for to a living man thecountenance of a loving woman is more eloquent than any language, moretrustworthy than a world of proverbs, more beautiful than the sweetestlove-lay ever sung. Frank looked at Debby, and "all her heart stood up in her eyes, " as shestretched her hands to him, though her lips only whispered very low, -- "Forgive me, and let me say the 'Yes' I should have said so long ago. " Had she required any assurance of her lover's truth, or any reward forher own, she would have found it in the change that dawned so swiftlyin his face, smoothing the lines upon his forehead, lighting the gloomof his eye, stirring his firm lips with a sudden tremor, and making histouch as soft as it was strong. For a moment both stood very still, while Debby's tears streamed down like summer rain; then Frank drew herinto the green shadow of the grove, and its peace soothed her like amother's voice, till she looked up smiling with a shy delight herglance had never known before. The slant sunbeams dropped abenediction on their heads, the robins peeped, and the cedarswhispered, but no rumor of what further passed ever went beyond theprecincts of the wood; for such hours are sacred, and Nature guards thefirst blossoms of a human love as tenderly as she nurses May-flowersunderneath the leaves. Mrs. Carroll had retired to her bed with a nervous headache, leavingDebby to the watch and ward of friendly Mrs. Earle, who performed heroffice finely by letting her charge entirely alone. In her dreams AuntPen was just imbibing a copious draught of champagne at thewedding-breakfast of her niece, "Mrs. Joseph Leavenworth, " when she wasroused by the bride elect, who passed through the room with a lamp anda shawl in her hand. "What time is it, and where are you going, dear?" she asked, dozilywondering if the carriage for the wedding-tour was at the door so soon. "It's only nine, and I am going for a sail, Aunt Pen. " As Debby spoke, the light flashed full into her face, and a suddenthought into Mrs. Carroll's mind. She rose up from her pillow, lookingas stately in her night-cap as Maria Theresa is said to have done inlike unassuming head-gear. "Something has happened, Dora! What have you done? What have yousaid? I insist upon knowing immediately, " she demanded, with somewhatstartling brevity. "I have said 'No' to Mr. Leavenworth and 'Yes' to Mr. Evan; and Ishould like to go home to-morrow, if you please, " was the equallyconcise reply. Mrs. Carroll fell flat in her bed, and lay there stiff and rigid asMorlena Kenwigs. Debby gently drew the curtains, and stole awayleaving Aunt Pen's wrath to effervesce before morning. The moon was hanging luminous and large on the horizon's edge, sendingshafts of light before her till the melancholy ocean seemed to smile, and along that shining pathway happy Debby and her lover floated intothat new world where all things seem divine. THE BROTHERS. Doctor Franck came in as I sat sewing up the rents in an old shirt, that Tom might go tidily to his grave. New shirts were needed for theliving, and there was no wife or mother to "dress him handsome when hewent to meet the Lord, " as one woman said, describing the fine funeralshe had pinched herself to give her son. "Miss Dane, I'm in a quandary, " began the Doctor, with that expressionof countenance which says as plainly as words, "I want to ask a favor, but I wish you'd save me the trouble. " "Can I help you out of it? "Faith! I don't like to propose it, but you certainly can, if youplease. " "Then give it a name, I beg. " "You see a Reb has just been brought in crazy with typhoid; a bad caseevery way; a drunken, rascally little captain somebody took the troubleto capture, but whom nobody wants to take the trouble to cure. Thewards are full, the ladies worked to death, and willing to be for ourown boys, but rather slow to risk their lives for a Reb. Now you've hadthe fever, you like queer patients, your mate will see to your ward fora while, and I will find you a good attendant. The fellow won't lastlong, I fancy; but he can't die without some sort of care, you know. I've put him in the fourth story of the west wing, away from the rest. It is airy, quiet, and comfortable there. I'm on that ward, and will domy best for you in every way. Now, then, will you go?" "Of course I will, out of perversity, if not common charity; for someof these people think that because I'm an abolitionist I am also aheathen, and I should rather like to show them, that, though I cannotquite love my enemies, I am willing to take care of them. " "Very good; I thought you'd go; and speaking of abolition reminds methat you can have a contraband for servant, if you like. It is thatfine mulatto fellow who was found burying his Rebel master after thefight, and, being badly cut over the head, our boys brought him along. Will you have him?" "By all means, --for I'll stand to my guns on that point, as on theother; these black boys are far more faithful and handy than some ofthe white scamps given me to serve, instead of being served by. But isthis man well enough?" "Yes, for that sort of work, and I think you'll like him. He must havebeen a handsome fellow before he got his face slashed; not much darkerthan myself; his master's son, I dare say, and the white blood makeshim rather high and haughty about some things. He was in a bad waywhen he came in, but vowed he'd die in the street rather than turn inwith the black fellows below; so I put him up in the west wing, to beout of the way, and he's seen to the captain all the morning. When canyou go up?" "As soon as Tom is laid out, Skinner moved, Haywood washed, Marbledressed, Charley rubbed, Downs taken up, Upham laid down, and the wholeforty fed. " We both laughed, though the Doctor was on his way to the dead-house andI held a shroud on my lap. But in a hospital one learns thatcheerfulness is one's salvation; for, in an atmosphere of suffering anddeath, heaviness of heart would soon paralyze usefulness of hand, ifthe blessed gift of smiles had been denied us. In an hour I took possession of my new charge, finding adissipated-looking boy of nineteen or twenty raving in the solitarylittle room, with no one near him but the contraband in the roomadjoining. Feeling decidedly more interest in the black man than in thewhite, yet remembering the Doctor's hint of his being "high andhaughty, " I glanced furtively at him as I scattered chloride of limeabout the room to purify the air, and settled matters to suit myself. I had seen many contrabands, but never one so attractive as this. Allcolored men are called "boys, " even if their heads are white; this boywas five-and-twenty at least, strong-limbed and manly, and had the lookof one who never had been cowed by abuse or worn with oppressive labor. He sat on his bed doing nothing; no book, no pipe, no pen or paperanywhere appeared, yet anything less indolent or listless than hisattitude and expression I never saw. Erect he sat with a hand oneither knee, and eyes fixed on the bare wall opposite, so rapt in someabsorbing thought as to be unconscious of my presence, though the doorstood wide open and my movements were by no means noiseless. His facewas half averted, but I instantly approved the Doctor's taste, for theprofile which I saw possessed all the attributes of comelinessbelonging to his mixed race. He was more quadroon than mulatto, withSaxon features, Spanish complexion darkened by exposure, color in lipsand cheek, waving hair, and an eye full of the passionate melancholywhich in such men always seems to utter a mute protest against thebroken law that doomed them at their birth. What could he be thinkingof? The sick boy cursed and raved, I rustled to and fro, steps passedthe door, bells rang, and the steady rumble of army-wagons came up fromthe street, still he never stirred. I had seen colored people in whatthey call "the black sulks, " when, for days, they neither smiled norspoke, and scarcely ate. But this was something more than that; forthe man was not dully brooding over some small grievance, --he seemed tosee an all-absorbing fact or fancy recorded on the wall, which was ablank to me. I wondered if it were some deep wrong or sorrow, keptalive by memory and impotent regret; if he mourned for the dead masterto whom he had been faithful to the end; or if the liberty now his wererobbed of half its sweetness by the knowledge that some one near anddear to him still languished in the hell from which he had escaped. Myheart quite warmed to him at that idea; I wanted to know and comforthim; and, following the impulse of the moment, I went in and touchedhim on the shoulder. In an instant the man vanished and the slave appeared. Freedom was toonew a boon to have wrought its blessed changes yet, and as he startedup, with his hand at his temple and an obsequious "Yes, Ma'am, " anyromance that had gathered round him fled away, leaving the saddest ofall sad facts in living guise before me. Not only did the manhood seemto die out of him, but the comeliness that first attracted me; for, ashe turned, I saw the ghastly wound that had laid open cheek andforehead. Being partly healed, it was no longer bandaged, but heldtogether with strips of that transparent plaster which I never seewithout a shiver and swift recollections of scenes with which it isassociated in my mind. Part of his black hair had been shorn away, andone eye was nearly closed; pain so distorted, and the cruel sabre-cutso marred that portion of his face, that, when I saw it, I felt as if afine medal had been suddenly reversed, showing me a far more strikingtype of human suffering and wrong than Michel Angelo's bronze prisoner. By one of those inexplicable processes that often teach us how littlewe understand ourselves, my purpose was suddenly changed, and though Iwent in to offer comfort as a friend, I merely gave an order as amistress. "Will you open these windows? this man needs more air. " He obeyed at once, and, as he slowly urged up the unruly sash, thehandsome profile was again turned toward me, and again I was possessedby my first impression so strongly that I involuntarily said, -- "Thank you, Sir. " Perhaps it was fancy, but I thought that in the look of mingledsurprise and something like reproach which he gave me there was also atrace of grateful pleasure. But he said, in that tone of spiritlesshumility these poor souls learn so soon, -- "I ain't a white man, Ma'am, I'm a contraband. " "Yes, I know it; but a contraband is a free man, and I heartilycongratulate you. " He liked that; his face shone, he squared his shoulders, lifted hishead, and looked me full in the eye with a brisk-- "Thank ye, Ma'am; anything more to do fer yer?" "Doctor Franck thought you would help me with this man, as there aremany patients and few nurses or attendants. Have you had the fever?" "No, Ma'am. " "They should have thought of that when they put him here; wounds andfevers should not be together. I'll try to get you moved. " He laughed a sudden laugh, --if he had been a white man, I should havecalled it scornful; as he was a few shades darker than myself, Isuppose it must be considered an insolent, or at least an unmannerlyone. "It don't matter, Ma'am. I'd rather be up here with the fever than downwith those niggers; and there ain't no other place fer me. " Poor fellow! that was true. No ward in all the hospital would take himin to lie side by side with the most miserable white wreck there. Likethe bat in Aesop's fable, he belonged to neither race; and the pride ofone, the helplessness of the other, kept him hovering alone in thetwilight a great sin has brought to overshadow the whole land. "You shall stay, then; for I would far rather have you than any lazyJack. But are you well and strong enough?" "I guess I'll do, Ma'am. " He spoke with a passive sort of acquiescence, --as if it did not muchmatter, if he were not able, and no one would particularly rejoice, ifhe were. "Yes, I think you will. By what name shall I call you?" "Bob, Ma'am. " Every woman has her pet whim; one of mine was to teach the menself-respect by treating them respectfully. Tom, Dick, and Harry wouldpass, when lads rejoiced in those familiar abbreviations; but toaddress men often old enough to be my father in that style did not suitmy old-fashioned ideas of propriety. This "Bob" would never do; Ishould have found it as easy to call the chaplain "Gus" as mytragical-looking contraband by a title so strongly associated with thetail of a kite. "What is your other name?" I asked. "I like to call my attendants bytheir last names rather than by their first. " "I've got no other, Ma'am; we have our masters' names, or do without. Mine's dead, and I won't have anything of his about me. " "Well, I'll call you Robert, then, and you may fill this pitcher forme, if you will be so kind. " He went; but, through all the tame, obedience years of servitude hadtaught him, I could see that the proud spirit his father gave him wasnot yet subdued, for the look and gesture with which he repudiated hismaster's name were a more effective declaration of independence thanany Fourth-of-July orator could have prepared. We spent a curious week together. Robert seldom left his room, exceptupon my errands; and I was a prisoner all day, often all night, by thebedside of the Rebel. The fever burned itself rapidly away, for thereseemed little vitality to feed it in the feeble frame of this old youngman, whose life had been none of the most righteous, judging from therevelations made by his unconscious lips; since more than once Robertauthoritatively silenced him, when my gentler bushings were of noavail, and blasphemous wanderings or ribald camp-songs made my cheeksburn and Robert's face assume an aspect of disgust. The captain was agentleman in the world's eye, but the contraband was the gentleman inmine;--I was a fanatic, and that accounts for such depravity of taste, I hope. I never asked Robert of himself, feeling that somewhere therewas a spot still too sore to bear the lightest touch; but, from hislanguage, manner, and intelligence, I inferred that his color hadprocured for him the few advantages within the reach of a quick-witted, kindly treated slave. Silent, grave, and thoughtful, but mostserviceable, was my contraband; glad of the books I brought him, faithful in the performance of the duties I assigned to him, gratefulfor the friendliness I could not but feel and show toward him. Often Ilonged to ask what purpose was so visibly altering his aspect with suchdaily deepening gloom. But I never dared, and no one else had eithertime or desire to pry into the past of this specimen of one branch ofthe chivalrous "F. F. Vs. " On the seventh night, Dr. Franck suggested that it would be well forsome one, besides the general watchman of the ward, to be with thecaptain, as it might be his last. Although the greater part of the twopreceding nights had been spent there, of course I offered toremain, --for there is a strange fascination in these scenes, whichrenders one careless of fatigue and unconscious of fear until thecrisis is passed. "Give him water as long as he can drink, and if he drops into a naturalsleep, it may save him. I'll look in at midnight, when some change willprobably take place. Nothing but sleep or a miracle will keep him now. Good night. " Away went the Doctor; and, devouring a whole mouthful of grapes, Ilowered the lamp, wet the captain's head, and sat down on a hard stoolto begin my watch. The captain lay with his hot, haggard face turnedtoward me, filling the air with his poisonous breath, and feeblymuttering, with lips and tongue so parched that the sanest speech wouldhave been difficult to understand. Robert was stretched on his bed inthe inner room, the door of which stood ajar, that a fresh draught fromhis open window might carry the fever-fumes away through mine. I couldjust see a long, dark figure, with the lighter outline of a face, and, having little else to do just then, I fell to thinking of this curiouscontraband, who evidently prized his freedom highly, yet seemed in nohaste to enjoy it. Doctor Franck had offered to send him on to saferquarters, but he had said, "No, thank yer, Sir, not yet, " and then hadgone away to fall into one of those black moods of his, which began todisturb me, because I had no power to lighten them. As I sat listeningto the clocks from the steeples all about us, I amused myself withplanning Robert's future, as I often did my own, and had dealt out tohim a generous hand of trumps wherewith to play this game of life whichhitherto had gone so cruelly against him, when a harsh, choked voicecalled, -- "Lucy!" It was the captain, and some new terror seemed to have gifted him withmomentary strength. "Yes, here's Lucy, " I answered, hoping that by following the fancy Imight quiet him, --for his face was damp with the clammy moisture, andhis frame shaken with the nervous tremor that so often precedes death. His dull eye fixed upon me, dilating with a bewildered look ofincredulity and wrath, till he broke out fiercely. -- "That's a lie! she's dead, --and so's Bob, damn him!" Finding speech a failure, I began to sing the quiet tune that had oftensoothed delirium like this; but hardly had the line, "See gentle patience smile on pain, " passed my lips, when he clutched me by the wrist, whispering like onein mortal fear, -- "Hush! she used to sing that way to Bob, but she never would to me. Iswore I'd whip the Devil out of her, and I did; but you know before shecut her throat she said she'd haunt me, and there she is!" He pointed behind me with an aspect of such pale dismay, that Iinvoluntarily glanced over my shoulder and started as if I had seen averitable ghost; for, peering from the gloom of that inner room, I sawa shadowy face, with dark hair all about it, and a glimpse of scarletat the throat. An instant showed me that it was only Robert leaningfrom his bed's-foot, wrapped in a gray army-blanket, with his red shirtjust visible above it, and his long hair disordered by sleep. But whata strange expression was on his face! The unmarred side was toward me, fixed and motionless as when I first observed it, --less absorbed now, but more intent. His eye glittered, his lips were apart like one wholistened with every sense, and his whole aspect reminded me of a houndto which some wind had brought the scent of unsuspected prey. "Do you know him, Robert? Does he mean you?" "Lord, no, Ma'am; they all own half a dozen Bobs: but hearin' my namewoke me; that's all. " He spoke quite naturally, and lay down again, while I returned to mycharge, thinking that this paroxysm was probably his last. But byanother hour I perceived a hopeful change, for the tremor had subsided, the cold dew was gone, his breathing was more regular, and Sleep, thehealer, had descended to save or take him gently away. Doctor Francklooked in at midnight, bade me keep all cool and quiet, and not fail toadminister a certain draught as soon as the captain woke. Very muchrelieved, I laid my head on my arms, uncomfortably folded on the littletable, and fancied I was about to perform one of the feats whichpractice renders possible, --"sleeping with one eye open, " as we say: ahalf-and-half doze, for all senses sleep but that of hearing; thefaintest murmur, sigh, or motion will break it, and give one back one'swits much brightened by the permission to "stand at ease. " On thisnight, the experiment was a failure, for previous vigils, confinement, and much care had rendered naps a dangerous indulgence, Having rousedhalf a dozen times in an hour to find all quiet, I dropped my heavyhead on my arms, and, drowsily resolving to look up again in fifteenminutes, fell fast asleep. The striking of a deep-voiced clock woke me with a start. "That isone, " thought I, but, to my dismay, two more strokes followed; and inremorseful haste I sprang up to see what harm my long oblivion haddone. A strong hand put me back into my seat, and held me there. Itwas Robert. The instant my eye met his my heart began to beat, and allalong my nerves tingled that electric flash which foretells a dangerthat we cannot see. He was very pale, his mouth grim, and both eyesfull of sombre fire, --for even the wounded one was open now, all themore sinister for the deep scar above and below. But his touch wassteady, his voice quiet, as he said, -- "Sit still, Ma'am; I won't hurt yer, nor even scare yer, if I can helpit, but yer waked too soon. " "Let me go, Robert, --the captain is stirring, --I must give himsomething. " "No, Ma'am, yer can't stir an inch. Look here!" Holding me with one hand, with the other he took up the glass in whichI had left the draught, and showed me it was empty. "Has he taken it?" I asked, more and more bewildered. "I flung it out o' winder, Ma'am; he'll have to do without. " "But why, Robert? why did you do it?" "Because I hate him!" Impossible to doubt the truth of that; his whole face showed it, as hespoke through his set teeth, and launched a fiery glance at theunconscious captain. I could only hold my breath and stare blankly athim, wondering what mad act was coming next. I suppose I shook andturned white, as women have a foolish habit of doing when sudden dangerdaunts them; for Robert released my arm, sat down upon the bedside justin front of me, and said, with the ominous quietude that made me coldto see and hear, -- "Don't yer be frightened, Ma'am: don't try to run away, fer the door'slocked an' the key in my pocket; don't yer cry out, fer yer'd have toscream a long while, with my hand on yer mouth, before yer was heard. Be still, an' I'll tell yer what I'm goin' to do. " "Lord help us! he has taken the fever in some sudden, violent way, andis out of his head. I must humor him till some one comes"; inpursuance of which swift determination, I tried to say, quitecomposedly, -- "I will be still and hear you; but open the window. Why did you shutit?" "I'm sorry I can't do it, Ma'am; but yer'd jump out, or call, if I did, an' I'm not ready yet. I shut it to make yer sleep, an' heat would doit quicker'n anything else I could do. " The captain moved, and feebly muttered, "Water!" Instinctively I roseto give it to him, but the heavy hand came down upon my shoulder, andin the same decided tone Robert said, -= "The water went with the physic; let him call. " "Do let me go to him! he'll die without care!" "I mean he shall;--don't yer interfere, if yer please, Ma'am. " In spite of his quiet tone and respectful manner, I saw murder in hiseyes, and turned faint with fear; yet the fear excited me, and, hardlyknowing what I did, I seized the hands that had seized me, crying, -- "No, no, you shall not kill him! it is base to hurt a helpless man. Why do you hate him? He is not your master?" "He's my brother. " I felt that answer from head to foot, and seemed to fathom what wascoming, with a prescience vague, but unmistakable. One appeal was leftto me, and I made it. "Robert, tell me what it means? Do not commit a crime and make meaccessory to it--There is a better way of righting wrong than byviolence;--let me help you find it. " My voice trembled as I spoke, and I heard the frightened flutter of myheart; so did he, and if any little act of mine had ever won affectionor respect from him, the memory of it served me then. He looked down, and seemed to put some question to himself; whatever it was, the answerwas in my favor, for when his eyes rose again, they were gloomy, butnot desperate. "I will tell you, Ma'am; but mind, this makes no difference; the boy ismine. I'll give the Lord a chance to take him fust; if He don't, Ishall. " "Oh, no! remember, he is your brother. " An unwise speech; I felt it as it passed my lips, for a black frowngathered on Robert's face, and his strong hands closed with an uglysort of grip. But he did not touch the poor soul gasping there beforehim, and seemed content to let the slow suffocation of that stiflingroom end his frail life. "I'm not like to forget that, Ma'am, when I've been thinkin' of it allthis week. I knew him when they fetched him in, an' would 'a' done itlong 'fore this, but I wanted to ask where Lucy was; he knows, --he toldto-night, --an' now he's done for. " "Who is Lucy?" I asked hurriedly, intent on keeping his mind busy withany thought but murder. With one of the swift transitions of a mixed temperament like this, atmy question Robert's deep eyes filled, the clenched hands were spreadbefore his face, and all I heard were the broken words, -- "My wife, --he took her--" In that instant every thought of fear was swallowed up in burningindignation for the wrong, and a perfect passion of pity for thedesperate man so tempted to avenge an injury for which there seemed noredress but this. He was no longer slave or contraband, no drop ofblack blood marred him in my sight, but an infinite compassion yearnedto save, to help, to comfort him. Words seemed so powerless I offerednone, only put my hand on his poor head, wounded, homeless, bowed downwith grief for which I had no cure, and softly smoothed the longneglected hair, pitifully wondering the while where was the wife whomust have loved this tender-hearted man so well. The captain moaned again, and faintly whispered, "Air!" but I neverstirred. God forgive me! just then I hated him as only a womanthinking of a sister woman's wrong could hate. Robert looked up; hiseyes were dry again, his mouth grim. I saw that, said, "Tell me more, "and he did, --for sympathy is a gift the poorest may give, the proudeststoop to receive. "Yer see, Ma'am, his father, --I might say ours, if I warn't ashamed ofboth of 'em, --his father died two years ago, an' left us all to MarsterNed, --that's him here, eighteen then. He always hated me, I looked solike old Marster: he don't--only the light skin an' hair. Old Marsterwas kind to all of us, me 'specially, an' bought Lucy off the nextplantation down there in South Car'lina, when he found I liked her. Imarried her, all I could, Ma'am; it warn't much, but we was true to oneanother till Marster Ned come home a year after an' made hell fer bothof us. He sent my old mother to be used up in his rice swamp in Georgy;he found me with my pretty Lucy, an' though young Miss cried, an' Iprayed to him on my knees, an' Lucy run away, he wouldn't have nomercy; he brought her back, an'--took her, Ma'am. " "Oh! what did you do?" I cried, hot with helpless pain and passion. How the man's outraged heart sent the blood flaming up into his faceand deepened the tones of his impetuous voice, as he stretched his armacross the bed, saying, with a terribly expressive gesture, -- "I half murdered him, an' to-night I'll finish. " "Yes, yes, --but go on now; what came next?" He gave me a look that showed no white man could have felt a deeperdegradation in remembering and confessing these last acts of brotherlyoppression. "They whipped me till I couldn't stand, an' then they sold me furtherSouth. Yer thought I was a white man once;--look here!" With a sudden wrench he tore the shirt from neck to waist, and on hisstrong brown shoulders showed me furrows deeply ploughed, wounds which, though healed, were ghastlier to me than any in that house. I couldnot speak to him, and, with the pathetic dignity a great grief lendsthe humblest sufferer, he ended his brief tragedy by simply saying, -- "That's all. Ma'am. I've never seen her since, an' now I never shallin this world, --maybe not in t' other. " "But, Robert, why think her dead? The captain was wandering when hesaid those sad things; perhaps he will retract them when he is sane. Don't despair; don't give up yet. " "No, Ma'am, I guess he's right; she was too proud to bear that long. It's like her to kill herself. I told her to, if there was no otherway; an' she always minded me, Lucy did. My poor girl! Oh, it warn'tright! No, by God, it warn't!" As the memory of this bitter wrong, this double bereavement, burned inhis sore heart, the devil that lurks in every strong man's blood leapedup; he put his hand upon his brother's throat, and, watching the whiteface before him, muttered low between his teeth, -- "I'm lettin' him go too easy; there's no pain in this; we a'n't evenyet. I wish he knew me. Marster Ned! it's Bob; where's Lucy?" From the captain's lips there came a long faint sigh, and nothing but aflutter of the eyelids showed that he still lived. A strange stillnessfilled the room as the elder brother held the younger's life suspendedin his hand, while wavering between a dim hope and a deadly hate. Inthe whirl of thoughts that went on in my brain, only one was clearenough to act upon. I must prevent murder, if I could, --but how? Whatcould I do up there alone, locked in with a dying man and alunatic?--for any mind yielded utterly to any unrighteous impulse ismad while the impulse rules it. Strength I had not, nor much courage, neither time nor wit for stratagem, and chance only could bring me helpbefore it was too late. But one weapon I possessed, --a tongue, --oftena woman's best defence: and sympathy, stronger than fear, gave me powerto use it. What I said Heaven only knows, but surely Heaven helped me;words burned on my lips, tears streamed from my eyes, and some goodangel prompted me to use the one name that had power to arrest myhearer's hand and touch his heart. For at that moment I heartilybelieved that Lucy lived, and this earnest faith roused in him a likebelief. He listened with the lowering look of one in whom brute instinct wassovereign for the time, --a look that makes the noblest countenancebase. He was but a man, --a poor, untaught, outcast, outraged man. Lifehad few joys for him; the world offered him no honors, no success, nohome, no love. What future would this crime mar? and why should hedeny himself that sweet, yet bitter morsel called revenge? How manywhite men, with all New England's freedom, culture, Christianity, wouldnot have felt as he felt then? Should I have reproached him for a humananguish, a human longing for redress, all now left him from the ruin ofhis few poor hopes? Who had taught him that self-control, self-sacrifice, are attributes that make men masters of the earth andlift them nearer heaven? Should I have urged the beauty offorgiveness, the duty of devout submission? He had no religion, for hewas no saintly "Uncle Tom, " and Slavery's black shadow seemed to darkenall the world to him and shut out God. Should I have warned him ofpenalties, of judgments, and the potency of law? What did he know ofjustice, or the mercy that should temper that stern virtue, when everylaw, human and divine, had been broken on his hearthstone? Should Ihave tried to touch him by appeals to filial duty, to brotherly love?How had his appeals been answered? What memories had father and brotherstored up in his heart to plead for either now? No, --all theseinfluences, these associations, would have proved worse than useless, had I been calm enough to try them. I was not; but instinct, subtlerthan reason, showed me the one safe clue by which to lead this troubledsoul from the labyrinth in which it groped and nearly fell. When Ipaused, breathless, Robert turned to me, asking, as if human assurancescould strengthen his faith in Divine Omnipotence, -- "Do you believe, if I let Marster Ned live, the Lord will give me backmy Lucy?" "As surely as there is a Lord, you will find her here or in thebeautiful hereafter, where there is no black or white, no master and noslave. " He took his hand from his brother's throat, lifted his eyes from myface to the wintry sky beyond, as if searching for that blessedcountry, happier even than the happy North. Alas, it was the darkesthour before the dawn!--there was no star above, no light below but thepale glimmer of the lamp that showed the brother who had made himdesolate. Like a blind man who believes there is a sun, yet cannot seeit, he shook his head, let his arms drop nervously upon his knees, andsat there dumbly asking that question which many a soul whose faith isfirmer fixed than his has asked in hours less dark than this, -- "Where is God?" I saw the tide had turned, and strenuously tried tokeep this rudderless lifeboat from slipping back into the whirlpoolwherein it had been so nearly lost. "I have listened to you, Robert; now hear me, and heed what I say, because my heart is full of pity for you, full of hope for your future, and a desire to help you now. I want you to go away from here, fromthe temptation of this place, and the sad thoughts that haunt it. Youhave conquered yourself once, and I honor you for it, because, theharder the battle, the more glorious the victory; but it is safer toput a greater distance between you and this man. I will write youletters, give you money, and send you to good old Massachusetts tobegin your new life a freeman, --yes, and a happy man; for when thecaptain is himself again, I will learn where Lucy is, and move heavenand earth to find and give her back to you. Will you do this, Robert?" Slowly, very slowly, the answer came; for the purpose of a week, perhaps a year, was hard to relinquish in an hour. "Yes, Ma'am, I will. " "Good! Now you are the man I thought you, and I'll work for you withall my heart. You need sleep, my poor fellow; go, and try to forget. The captain is still alive, and as yet you are spared the sin. No, don't look there; I'll care for him. Come, Robert, for Lucy's sake. " Thank Heaven for the immortality of love! for when all other means ofsalvation failed, a spark of this vital fire softened the man's ironwill until a woman's hand could bend it. He let me take from him thekey, let me draw him gently away and lead him to the solitude which nowwas the most healing balm I could bestow. Once in his little room, hefell down on his bed and lay there as if spent with the sharpestconflict of his life. I slipped the bolt across his door, and unlockedmy own, flung up the window, steadied myself with a breath of air, thenrushed to Doctor Franck. He came; and till dawn we worked together, saving one brother's life, and taking earnest thought how best tosecure the other's liberty. When the sun came up as blithely as if itshone only upon happy homes, the Doctor went to Robert. For an hour Iheard the murmur of their voices; once I caught the sound of heavysobs, and for a time a reverent hush, as if in the silence that goodman were ministering to soul as well as sense. When he departed hetook Robert with him, pausing to tell me he should get him off as soonas possible, but not before we met again. Nothing more was seen of them all day; another surgeon came to see thecaptain, and another attendant came to fill the empty place. I triedto rest, but could not, with the thought of poor Lucy tugging at myheart, and was soon back at my post again, anxiously hoping that mycontraband had not been too hastily spirited away. Just as night fellthere came a tap, and opening, I saw Robert literally "clothed and inhis right mind. " The Doctor had replaced the ragged suit with tidygarments, and no trace of that tempestuous night remained but deeperlines upon the forehead, and the docile look of a repentant child. Hedid not cross the threshold, did not offer me his hand, --only took offhis cap, saying, with a traitorous falter in his voice, -- "God bless you, Ma'am! I'm goin'. " I put out both my hands, and held his fast. "Good-bye, Robert! Keep up good heart, and when I come home toMassachusetts we'll meet in a happier place than this. Are you quiteready, quite comfortable for your journey? "Yes, Ma'am, Yes; the Doctor's fixed everything; I'm goin' with afriend of his; my papers are all right, an' I'm as happy as I can betill I find, --" He stopped there; then went on, with a glance into the room, -- "I'm glad I didn't do it, an' I thank yer, Ma'am, fer hinderin'me, --thank yer hearty; but I'm afraid I hate him jest the same. " Of course he did; and so did I; for these faulty hearts of ours cannotturn perfect in a night, but need frost and fire, wind and rain, toripen and make them ready for the great harvest-home. Wishing to diverthis mind, I put my poor mite into his hand, and, remembering the magicof a certain little book, I gave him mine, on whose dark cover whitelyshone the Virgin Mother and the Child, the grand history of whose lifethe book contained. The money went into Robert's pocket with agrateful murmur, the book into his bosom with a long took and atremulous-- "I never saw my baby, Ma'am. " I broke down then; and though my eyes were too dim to see, I felt thetouch of lips upon my hands, heard the sound of departing feet, andknew my contraband was gone. When one feels an intense dislike, the less one says about the subjectof it the better; therefore I shall merely record that the captainlived, --in time was exchanged; and that, whoever the other party was, Iam convinced the Government got the best of the bargain. But longbefore this occurred, I had fulfilled my promise to Robert; for as soonas my patient recovered strength of memory enough to make his answertrustworthy, I asked, without any circumlocution, -- "Captain Fairfax, where is Lucy?" And too feeble to be angry, surprised, or insincere, he straightwayanswered, -- "Dead, Miss Dane. " "And she killed herself, when you sold Bob?" "How the Devil did you know that?" he muttered, with an expressionhalf-remorseful, half-amazed; but I was satisfied, and said no more. Of course, this went to Robert, waiting far away there in a lonelyhome, --waiting, working, hoping for his Lucy. It almost broke my heartto do it; but delay was weak, deceit was wicked; so I sent the heavytidings, and very soon the answer came, --only three lines; but I feltthat the sustaining power of the man's life was gone. "I thought I'd never see her any more; I'm glad to know she's out oftrouble. I thank yer, Ma'am; an' if they let us, I'll fight fer yertill I'm killed, which I hope will be 'fore long. " Six months later he had his wish, and kept his word. Every one knows the story of the attack on Fort Wagner; but we shouldnot tire yet of recalling how our Fifty-Fourth, spent with threesleepless nights, a day's fast, and a march under the July sun, stormedthe fort as night fell, facing death in many shapes, following theirbrave leaders through a fiery rain of shot and shell, fightingvaliantly for God and Governor Andrew, --how the regiment that went intoaction seven hundred strong came out having had nearly half its numbercaptured, killed, or wounded, leaving their young commander to beburied, like a chief of earlier times, with his body-guard around him, faithful to the death. Surely, the insult turns to honor, and the widegrave needs no monument but the heroism that consecrates it in oursight; surely, the hearts that held him nearest see through their tearsa noble victory in the seeming sad defeat; and surely, God'sbenediction was bestowed, when this loyal soul answered, as Deathcalled the roll, "Lord, here I am, with the brothers Thou hast givenme!" The future must show how well that fight was fought; for though FortWagner still defies us, public prejudice is down; and through thecannon smoke of that black night the manhood of the colored race shinesbefore many eyes that would not see, rings in many ears that would nothear, wins many hearts that would not hitherto believe. When the news came that we were needed, there was none so glad as I toleave teaching contrabands, the new work I had taken up, and go tonurse "our boys, " as my dusky flock so proudly called the wounded ofthe Fifty-Fourth. Feeling more satisfaction, as I assumed my big apronand turned up my cuffs, than if dressing for the President's levee, Ifell to work on board the hospital-ship in Hilton-Head harbor. Thescene was most familiar, and yet strange; for only dark faces looked upat me from the pallets so thickly laid along the floor, and I missedthe sharp accent of my Yankee boys in the slower, softer voices callingcheerily to one another, or answering my questions with a stout, "We'llnever give it up, Ma'am, till the last Reb's dead, " or, "If ourpeople's free, we can afford to die. " Passing from bed to bed, intent on making one pair of hands do the workof three, at least, I gradually washed, fed, and bandaged my way downthe long line of sable heroes, and coming to the very last, found thathe was my contraband. So old, so worn, so deathly weak and wan, I nevershould have known him but for the deep scar on his cheek. That sidelay uppermost, and caught my eye at once; but even then I doubted, suchan awful change had come upon him, when, turning to the ticket justabove his head, I saw the name, "Robert Dane. " That both assured andtouched me, for, remembering that he had no name, I knew that he hadtaken mine. I longed for him to speak to me, to tell how he had faredsince I lost sight of him, and let me perform some little service forhim in return for many he had done for me; but he seemed asleep; and asI stood re-living that strange night again, a bright lad, who lay nexthim softly waving an old fan across both beds, looked up and said, -- "I guess you know him, Ma'am?" "You are right. Do you?" "As much as any one was able to, Ma'am. " "Why do you say 'was, ' as if the man were dead and gone?" "I s'pose because I know he'll have to go. He's got a bad jab in thebreast, an' is bleedin' inside, the Doctor says. He don't suffer any, only gets weaker 'n' weaker every minute. I've been fannin' him thislong while, an' he's talked a little; but he don't know me now, so he'smost gone, I guess. " There was so much sorrow and affection in the boy's face, that Iremembered something, and asked, with redoubled interest, -- "Are you the one that brought him off? I was told about a boy whonearly lost his life in saving that of his mate. " I dare say the young fellow blushed, as any modest lad might have done;I could not see it, but I heard the chuckle of satisfaction thatescaped him, as he glanced from his shattered arm and bandaged side tothe pale figure opposite. "Lord, Ma'am, that's nothin'; we boys always stan' by one another, an'I warn't goin' to leave him to be tormented any more by them cussedRebs. He's been a slave once, though he don't look half so much likeit as me, an' was born in Boston. " He did not; for the speaker was as black as the ace of spades, --being asturdy specimen, the knave of clubs would perhaps be a fitterrepresentative, --but the dark freeman looked at the white slave withthe pitiful, yet puzzled expression I have so often seen on the facesof our wisest men, when this tangled question of Slavery presentsitself, asking to be cut or patiently undone. "Tell me what you know of this man; for, even if he were awake, he istoo weak to talk. " "I never saw him till I joined the regiment, an' no one 'peared to havegot much out of him. He was a shut-up sort of feller, an' didn't seemto care for anything but gettin' at the Rebs. Some say he was the fustman of us that enlisted; I know he fretted till we were off, an' whenwe pitched into old Wagner, he fought like the Devil. " "Were you with him when he was wounded? How was it?" "Yes, Ma'am. There was somethin' queer about it; for he 'peared toknow the chap that killed him, an' the chap knew him. I don't dare toask, but I rather guess one owned the other some time, --for, when theyclinched, the chap sung out, 'Bob!' an' Dane, 'Marster Ned! then theywent at it. " I sat down suddenly, for the old anger and compassion struggled in myheart, and I both longed and feared to hear what was to follow. "You see, when the Colonel--Lord keep an' send him back to us!--ita'n't certain yet, you know, Ma'am, though it's two days ago we losthim--well, when the Colonel shouted, 'Rush on, boys, rush on!' Danetore away as if he was goin' to take the fort alone; I was next him, an' kept close as we went through the ditch an' up the wall. Hi! warn'tthat a rusher!" and the boy flung up his well arm with a whoop, as ifthe mere memory of that stirring moment came over him in a gust ofirrepressible excitement. "Were you afraid?" I said, --asking the question women often put, andreceiving the answer they seldom fail to get. "No, Ma'am!"--emphasis on the "Ma'am, "--"I never thought of anythingbut the damn Rebs, that scalp, slash, an' cut our ears off, when theygit us. I was bound to let daylight into one of 'em at least, an' Idid. Hope he liked it!" "It is evident that you did, and I don't blame you in the least. Nowgo on about Robert, for I should be at work. " "He was one of the fust up; I was just behind, an' though the wholething happened in a minute. I remember how it was, for all I wasyellin' an' knockin' round like mad. Just where we were, some sort ofan officer was wavin' his sword an' cheerin' on his men; Dane saw himby a big flash that come by; he flung away his gun, give a leap, an'went at that feller as if he was Jeff, Beauregard, an' Lee, all in one. I scrabbled after as quick as I could, but was only up in time to seehim git the sword straight through him an' drop into the ditch. Youneedn't ask what I did next, Ma'am, for I don't quite know myself; allI 'm clear about is, that I managed somehow to pitch that Reb into thefort as dead as Moses, git hold of Dane, an' bring him off. Poor oldfeller! we said we went in to live or die; he said he went in to die, an' he 's done it. " I had been intently watching the excited speaker; but as he regretfullyadded those last words I turned again, and Robert's eyes metmine, --those melancholy eyes, so full of an intelligence that proved hehad heard, remembered, and reflected with that preternatural powerwhich often outlives all other faculties. He knew me, yet gave nogreeting; was glad to see a woman's face, yet had no smile wherewith towelcome it; felt that he was dying, yet uttered no farewell. He wastoo far across the river to return or linger now; departing thought, strength, breath, were spent in one grateful look, one murmur ofsubmission to the last pang he could ever feel. His lips moved, and, bending to them, a whisper chilled my cheek, as it shaped the brokenwords, -- "I would have done it, --but it 's better so, --I'm satisfied. " Ah! well he might be, --for, as he turned his face from the shadow ofthe life that was, the sunshine of the life to be touched it with abeautiful content, and in the drawing of a breath my contraband foundwife and home, eternal liberty and God. NELLY'S HOSPITAL Nelly sat beside her mother picking lint; but while her fingers flew, her eyes often looked wistfully out into the meadow, golden withbuttercups, and bright with sunshine. Presently she said, ratherbashfully, but very earnestly, "Mamma, I want to tell you a little planI've made, if you'll please not laugh. " "I think I can safely promise that, my dear, " said her mother, puttingdown her work that she might listen quite respectfully. Nelly looked pleased, and went on confidingly, "Since brother Will came home with his lame foot, and I've helped youtend him, I've heard a great deal about hospitals, and liked it verymuch. To-day I said I wanted to go and be a nurse, like Aunt Mercy; butWill laughed, and told me I'd better begin by nursing sick birds andbutterflies and pussies before I tried to take care of men. I did notlike to be made fun of, but I've been thinking that it would be verypleasant to have a little hospital all my own, and be a nurse in it, because, if I took pains, so many pretty creatures might be made well, perhaps. Could I, mamma?" Her mother wanted to smile at the idea, but did not, for Nelly lookedup with her heart and eyes so full of tender compassion, both for theunknown men for whom her little hands had done their best, and for thesmaller sufferers nearer home, that she stroked the shining head, andanswered readily: "Yes, Nelly, it will be a proper charity for such ayoung Samaritan, and you may learn much if you are in earnest. Youmust study how to feed and nurse your little patients, else your pitywill do no good, and your hospital become a prison. I will help you, and Tony shall be your surgeon. " "O mamma, how good you always are to me! Indeed, I am in truly earnest;I will learn, I will be kind, and may I go now and begin?" "You may, but tell me first where will you have your hospital?" "In my room, mamma; it is so snug and sunny, and I never should forgetit there, " said Nelly. "You must not forget it anywhere. I think that plan will not do. Howwould you like to find caterpillars walking in your bed, to hear sickpussies mewing in the night, to have beetles clinging to your clothes, or see mice, bugs, and birds tumbling downstairs whenever the door wasopen?" said her mother. Nelly laughed at that thought a minute, then clapped her hands, andcried: "Let us have the old summer-house! My doves only use the upperpart, and it would be so like Frank in the storybook. Please say yesagain, mamma. " Her mother did say yes, and, snatching up her hat, Nelly ran to findTony, the gardener's son, a pleasant lad of twelve, who was Nelly'sfavorite playmate. Tony pronounced the plan a "jolly" one, and, leavinghis work, followed his young mistress to the summer-house, for shecould not wait one minute. "What must we do first?" she asked, as they stood looking in at thedusty room, full of garden tools, bags of seeds, old flower-pots, andwatering-cans. "Clear out the rubbish, miss, " answered Tony. "Here it goes, then, " and Nelly began bundling everything out in suchhaste that she broke two flower-pots, scattered all the squash-seeds, and brought a pile of rakes and hoes clattering down about her ears. "Just wait a bit, and let me take the lead, miss. You hand me things, I'll pile 'em in the barrow and wheel 'em off to the barn; then it willsave time, and be finished up tidy. " Nelly did as he advised, and very soon nothing but dust remained. "What next?" she asked, not knowing in the least. "I'll sweep up while you see if Polly can come and scrub the room out. It ought to be done before you stay here, let alone the patients. " "So it had, " said Nelly, looking very wise all of a sudden. "Will saysthe wards--that means the rooms, Tony--are scrubbed every day or two, and kept very clean, and well venti-something--I can't say it; but itmeans having a plenty of air come in. I can clean windows while Pollymops, and then we shall soon be done. " Away she ran, feeling very busyand important. Polly came, and very soon the room looked like anotherplace. The four latticed windows were set wide open, so the sunshinecame dancing through the vines that grew outside, and curious rosespeeped in to see what frolic was afoot. The walls shone white again, for not a spider dared to stay; the wide seat which encircled the roomwas dustless now, --the floor as nice as willing hands could make it;and the south wind blew away all musty odors with its fragrant breath. "How fine it looks!" cried Nelly, dancing on the doorstep, lest afoot-print should mar the still damp floor. "I'd almost like to fall sick for the sake of staying here, " said Tony, admiringly. "Now, what sort of beds are you going to have, miss? "I suppose it won't do to put butterflies and toads and worms into bedslike the real soldiers where Will was?" answered Nelly, looking anxious. Tony could hardly help shouting at the idea; but, rather than troublehis little mistress, he said very soberly: "I'm afraid they wouldn'tlay easy, not being used to it. Tucking up a butterfly would aboutkill him; the worms would be apt to get lost among the bed-clothes; andthe toads would tumble out the first thing. " "I shall have to ask mamma about it. What will you do while I'm gone?"said Nelly, unwilling that a moment should be lost. "I'll make frames for nettings to the windows, else the doves will comein and eat up the sick people. "I think they will know that it is a hospital, and be too kind to hurtor frighten their neighbors, " began Nelly; but as she spoke, a plumpwhite dove walked in, looked about with its red-ringed eyes, andquietly pecked up a tiny bug that had just ventured out from the crackwhere it had taken refuge when the deluge came. "Yes, we must have the nettings. I'll ask mamma for some lace, " saidNelly, when she saw that; and, taking her pet dove on her shoulder, told it about her hospital as she went toward the house; for, lovingall little creatures as she did, it grieved her to have any harm befalleven the least or plainest of them. She had a sweet child-fancy thather playmates understood her language as she did theirs, and thatbirds, flowers, animals, and insects felt for her the same affectionwhich she felt for them. Love always makes friends, and nothing seemedto fear the gentle child; but welcomed her like a little sun who shonealike on all, and never suffered an eclipse. She was gone some time, and when she came back her mind was full of newplans, one hand full of rushes, the other of books, while over her headfloated the lace, and a bright green ribbon hung across her arm. "Mamma says that the best beds will be little baskets, boxes, cages, and any sort of thing that suits the patients; for each will needdifferent care and food and medicine. I have not baskets enough, so, asI cannot have pretty white beds, I am going to braid pretty green nestsfor my patients, and, while I do it, mamma thought you'd read to me thepages she has marked, so that we may begin right. " "Yes, miss; I like that. But what is the ribbon for?" asked Tony. "O, that's for you. Will says that, if you are to be an army surgeon, you must have a green band on your arm; so I got this to tie on when weplay hospital. " Tony let her decorate the sleeve of his gray jacket, and when thenettings were done, the welcome books were opened and enjoyed. It was ahappy time, sitting in the sunshine, with leaves pleasantly astir allabout them, doves cooing overhead, and flowers sweetly gossipingtogether through the summer afternoon. Nelly wove her smooth, greenrushes. Tony pored over his pages, and both found something betterthan fairy legends in the family histories of insects, birds, andbeasts. All manner of wonders appeared, and were explained to them, till Nelly felt as if a new world had been given her, so full ofbeauty, interest, and pleasure that she never could be tired ofstudying it. Many of these things were not strange to Tony, because, born among plants, he had grown up with them as if they were brothersand sisters, and the sturdy, brown-faced boy had learned many lessonswhich no poet or philosopher could have taught him, unless he hadbecome as child-like a s himself, and studied from the same great book. When the baskets were done, the marked pages all read, and the sunbegan to draw his rosy curtains round him before smiling "Good night, "Nelly ranged the green beds round the room, Tony put in the screens, and the hospital was ready. The little nurse was so excited that shecould hardly eat her supper, and directly afterwards ran up to tellWill how well she had succeeded with the first part of her enterprise. Now brother Will was a brave young officer, who had fought stoutly anddone his duty like a man. But when lying weak and wounded at home, thecheerful courage which had led him safely through many dangers seemedto have deserted him, and he was often gloomy, sad, or fretful, becausehe longed to be at his post again, and time passed very slowly. Thistroubled his mother, and made Nelly wonder why he found lying in apleasant room so much harder than fighting battles or making wearymarches. Anything that interested and amused him was very welcome, andwhen Nelly, climbing on the arm of his sofa, told her plans, mishaps, and successes, he laughed out more heartily than he had done for many aday, and his thin face began to twinkle with fun as it used to do solong ago. That pleased Nelly, and she chatted like any affectionatelittle magpie, till Will was really interested; for when one is ill, small things amuse. "Do you expect your patients to come to you, Nelly?" he asked. "No, I shall go and look for them. I often see poor things suffering inthe garden, and the wood, and always feel as if they ought to be takencare of, as people are. " "You won't like to carry insane bugs, lame toads, and convulsivekittens in your hands, and they would not stay on a stretcher if youhad one. You should have an ambulance and be a branch of the SanitaryCommission, " said Will. Nelly had often heard the words, but did not quite understand what theymeant. So Will told her of that great never-failing charity, to whichthousands owe their lives; and the child listened with lips apart, eyesoften full, and so much love and admiration in her heart that she couldfind no words in which to tell it. When her brother paused, she saidearnestly: "Yes, I will be a Sanitary. This little cart of mine shallbe my amb'lance, and I'll never let my water-barrels go empty, neverdrive too fast, or be rough with my poor passengers, like some of themen you tell about. Does this look like an ambulance, Will?" "Not a bit, but it shall, if you and mamma like to help me. I wantfour long bits of cane, a square of white cloth, some pieces of thinwood, and the gum-pot, " said Will, sitting up to examine the littlecart, feeling like a boy again as he took out his knife and began towhittle. Upstairs and downstairs ran Nelly till all necessary materialswere collected, and almost breathlessly she watched her brother archthe canes over the cart, cover them with the cloth, and fit an uppershelf of small compartments, each lined with cotton-wool to serve asbeds for wounded insects, lest they should hurt one another or jostleout. The lower part was left free for any larger creatures which Nellymight find. Among her toys she had a tiny cask which only needed a pegto be water-tight; this was filled and fitted in before, because, asthe small sufferers needed no seats, there was no place for it behind, and, as Nelly was both horse and driver, it was more convenient infront. On each side of it stood a box of stores. In one were minuterollers, as bandages are called, a few bottles not yet filled, and awee doll's jar of cold-cream, because Nelly could not feel that heroutfit was complete without a medicine-chest. The other box was full ofcrumbs, bits of sugar, bird-seed, and grains of wheat and corn, lestany famished stranger should die for want of food before she got ithome. Then mamma painted "U. S. San. Com. " in bright letters on thecover, and Nelly received her charitable plaything with a long sigh ofsatisfaction. "Nine o'clock already. Bless me, what a short evening this has been, "exclaimed Will, as Nelly came to give him her good-night kiss. "And such a happy one, " she answered. "Thank you very, very much, dear Will. I only wish my little amb'lancewas big enough for you to go in, --I'd so like to give you the firstride. " "Nothing I should like better, if it were possible, though I've aprejudice against ambulances in general. But as I cannot ride, I'lltry and hop out to your hospital to-morrow, and see how you geton, "--which was a great deal for Captain Will to say, because he hadbeen too listless to leave his sofa for several days. That promise sent Nelly happily away to bed, only stopping to pop herhead out of the window to see if it was likely to be a fair dayto-morrow, and to tell Tony about the new plan as he passed below. "Where shall you go to look for your first load of sick folks, miss?"he asked. "All round the garden first, then through the grove, and home acrossthe brook. Do you think I can find any patients so?" said Nelly. "I know you will. Good night, miss, " and Tony walked away with a merrylook on his face, that Nelly would not have understood if she had seenit. Up rose the sun bright and early, and up rose Nurse Nelly almost asearly and as bright. Breakfast was taken in a great hurry, and beforethe dew was off the grass this branch of the S. C. Was all astir. Papa, mamma, big brother and baby sister, men and maids, all looked outto see the funny little ambulance depart, and nowhere in all the summerfields was there a happier child than Nelly, as she went smiling downthe garden path, where tall flowers kissed her as she passed and everyblithe bird seemed singing a "Good speed!" "How I wonder what I shall find first, " she thought, looking sharply onall sides as she went. Crickets chirped, grasshoppers leaped, antsworked busily at their subterranean houses, spiders spun shining websfrom twig to twig, bees were coming for their bags of gold, andbutterflies had just begun their holiday. A large white one alightedon the top of the ambulance, walked over the inscription as if spellingit letter by letter, then floated away from flower to flower, like onecarrying the good news far and wide. "Now every one will know about the hospital and be glad to see mecoming, " thought Nelly. And indeed it seemed so, for just then ablack-bird, sitting on a garden wall, burst out with a song full ofmusical joy, Nelly's kitten came running after to stare at the wagonand rub her soft side against it, a bright-eyed toad looked out fromhis cool bower among the lily-leaves, and at that minute Nelly foundher first patient. In one of the dewy cobwebs hanging from a shrubnear by sat a fat black and yellow spider, watching a fly whosedelicate wings were just caught in the net. The poor fly buzzedpitifully, and struggled so hard that the whole web shook: but the morehe struggled, the more he entangled himself, and the fierce spider waspreparing to descend that it might weave a shroud about its prey, whena little finger broke the threads and lifted the fly safely into thepalm of a hand, where he lay faintly humming his thanks. Nelly had heard much about contrabands, knew who they were, and wasvery much interested in them; so, when she freed the poor black fly sheplayed he was her contraband, and felt glad that her first patient wasone that needed help so much. Carefully brushing away as much of theweb as she could, she left small Pompey, as she named him, to free hisown legs, lest her clumsy fingers should hurt him; then she laid him inone of the soft beds with a grain or two of sugar if he neededrefreshment, and bade him rest and recover from his fright, rememberingthat he was at liberty to fly away whenever he liked, because she hadno wish to male a slave of him. Feeling very happy over this new friend, Nelly went on singing softlyas she walked, and presently she found a pretty caterpillar dressed inbrown fur, although the day was warm. He lay so still she thought himdead, till he rolled himself into a ball as she touched him. "I think you are either faint from the heat of this thick coat ofyours, or that you are going to make a cocoon of yourself, Mr. Fuzz, "said Nelly. "Now I want to see you turn into a butterfly, so I shall take you, andif get lively again I will let you go. I shall play that you have givenout on a march, as the soldiers sometimes do, and been left behind forthe Sanitary people to see to. " In went sulky Mr. Fuzz, and on trundled the ambulance till a goldengreen rose-beetle was discovered, lying on his back kicking as if in afit. "Dear me, what shall I do for him?" thought Nelly. "He acts as baby didwhen she was so ill, and mamma put her in a warm bath. I haven't gotmy little tub here, or any hot water, and I'm afraid the beetle wouldnot like it if I had. Perhaps he has pain in his stomach; I'll turnhim over, and pat his back, as nurse does baby's when she cries forpain like that. " She set the beetle on his legs, and did her best to comfort him; but hewas evidently in great distress, for he could not walk, and instead oflifting his emerald overcoat, and spreading the wings that layunderneath, be turned over again, and kicked more violently thanbefore. Not knowing what to do, Nelly put him into one of her softnests for Tony to cure if possible. She found no more patients in thegarden except a dead bee, which she wrapped in a leaf, and took home tobury. When she came to the grove, it was so green and cool she longedto sit and listen to the whisper of the pines, and watch thelarch-tassels wave in the wind. But, recollecting her charitableerrand, she went rustling along the pleasant path till she came toanother patient, over which she stood considering several minutesbefore she could decide whether it was best to take it to her hospital, because it was a little gray snake, with bruised tail. She knew itwould not hurt her, yet she was afraid of it; she thought it pretty, yet could not like it: she pitied its pain, yet shrunk from helping it, for it had a fiery eye, and a keep quivering tongue, that looked as iflonging to bite. "He is a rebel, I wonder if I ought to be good to him, " thought Nelly, watching the reptile writhe with pain. "Will said there were sickrebels in his hospital, and one was very kind to him. It says, too, inmy little book, 'Love your enemies. ' I think snakes are mine, but Iguess I'll try and love him because God made him. Some boy will killhim if I leave him here, and then perhaps his mother will be very sadabout it. Come, poor worm, I wish to help you, so be patient, anddon't frighten me. " Then Nelly laid her little handkerchief on the ground, and with a stickgently lifted the wounded snake upon it, and, folding it together, laidit in the ambulance. She was thoughtful after that, and so busypuzzling her young head about the duty of loving those who hate us, andbeing kind to those who are disagreeable or unkind, that she wentthrough the rest of the wood quite forgetful of her work. A soft"Queek, queek!" made her look up and listen. The sound came from thelong meadow-grass, and, bending it carefully back, she found ahalf-fledged bird, with one wing trailing on the ground, and its eyesdim with pain or hunger. "You darling thing, did you fall out of your nest and hurt your wing?"cried Nelly, looking up into the single tree that stood near by. Nonest was to be seen, no parent birds hovered overhead, and little Robincould only tell its troubles in that mournful "Queek, queek, queek!" Nelly ran to get both her chests, and, sitting down beside the bird, tried to feed it. To her joy it ate crumb after crumb, as if it werehalf starved, and soon fluttered nearer a confiding fearlessness thatmade her very proud. Soon baby Robin seemed quite comfortable, his eyebrightened, he "queeked" no more, and but for the drooping wing wouldhave been himself again. With one of her bandages Nelly bound bothwings closely to his sides for fear he should hurt himself by trying tofly; and though he seemed amazed at her proceedings, he behaved verywell, only staring at her, and ruffling up his few feathers in a funnyway that made her laugh. Then she had to discover some way ofaccommodating her two larger patients so that neither should hurt noralarm the other. A bright thought came to her after much pondering. Carefully lifting the handkerchief, she pinned the two ends to the roofof the cart, and there swung little Forked-tongue, while Rob lay easilybelow. By this time, Nelly began to wonder how it happened that she found somany more injured things than ever before. But it never entered herinnocent head that Tony had searched the wood and meadow before she wasup, and laid most of these creatures ready to her hands, that she mightnot be disappointed. She had not yet lost her faith in fairies, so shefancied they too belonged to her small sisterhood, and presently it didreally seem impossible to doubt that the good folk had been at work. Coming to the bridge that crossed the brook, she stopped a moment towatch the water ripple over the bright pebbles, the ferns bend down todrink, and the funny tadpoles frolic in quieter nooks, where the sunshone, and the dragon-flies swung among the rushes. When Nelly turnedto go on, her blue eyes opened wide, and the handle of the ambulancedropped with a noise that caused a stout frog to skip into the waterheels over head. Directly in the middle of the bridge was a prettygreen tent, made of two tall burdock leaves. The stems were stuck intocracks between the boards, the tips were pinned together with a thorn, and one great buttercup nodded in the doorway like a sleepy sentinel. Nelly stared and smiled, listened, and looked about on every side. Nothing was seen but the quiet meadow and the shady grove, nothing washeard but the babble of the brook and the cheery music of the bobolinks. "Yes, " said Nelly softly to herself, "that is a fairy tent, and in it Imay find a baby elf sick with whooping-cough or scarlet-fever. Howsplendid it would be! only I could never nurse such a dainty thing. " Stooping eagerly, she peeped over the buttercup's drowsy head, and sawwhat seemed a tiny cock of hay. She had no time to feel disappointed, for the haycock began to stir, and, looking nearer, she beheld twosilvery gray mites, who wagged wee tails, and stretched themselves asif they had just waked up. Nelly knew that they were young field-mice, and rejoiced over them, feeling rather relieved that no fairy hadappeared, though she still believed them to have had a hand in thematter. "I shall call the mice my Babes in the Wood, because they are lost andcovered up with leaves, " said Nelly, as she laid them in her snuggestbed, where they nestled close together, and fell fast asleep again. Being very anxious to get home, that she might tell her adventures, andshow how great was the need of a sanitary commission in that region, Nelly marched proudly up the avenue, and, having displayed her load, hurried to the hospital, where another applicant was waiting for her. On the step of the door lay a large turtle, with one claw gone, and onhis back was pasted a bit of paper, with his name, --"Commodore Waddle, U. S. N. " Nelly knew this was a joke of Will's, but welcomed the ancientmariner, and called Tony to help her get him in. All that morning they were very busy settling the new-comers, for bothpeople and books had to be consulted before they could decide what dietand treatment was best for each. The winged contraband had taken Nellyat her word, and flown away on the journey home. Little Rob was put ina large cage, where he could use his legs, yet not injure his lamewing. Forked-tongue lay under a wire cover, on sprigs of fennel, forthe gardener said that snakes were fond of it. The Babes in the Woodwere put to bed in one of the rush baskets, under a cotton-woolcoverlet. Greenback, the beetle, found ease for his unknown aches inthe warm heart of a rose, where he sunned himself all day. TheCommodore was made happy in a tub of water, grass, and stones, and Mr. Fuzz was put in a well-ventilated glass box to decide whether he wouldbe a cocoon or not. Tony had not been idle while his mistress was away, and he showed herthe hospital garden he had made close by, in which were cabbage, nettle, and mignonette plants for the butterflies, flowering herbs forthe bees, chick-weed and hemp for the birds, catnip for the pussies, and plenty of room left for whatever other patients might need. In theafternoon, while Nelly did her task at lint-picking, talking busily toWill as she worked, and interesting him in her affairs, Tony cleared apretty spot in the grove for the burying-ground, and made ready somesmall bits of slate on which to write the names of those who died. Hedid not have it ready an hour too soon, for at sunset two little graveswere needed, and Nurse Nelly shed tender tears for her first losses asshe laid the motherless mice in one smooth hollow, and the gray-coatedrebel in the other. She had learned to care for him already, and whenshe found him dead, was very glad she had been kind to him, hoping thathe knew it, and died happier in her hospital than all alone in theshadowy wood. The rest of Nelly's patients prospered, and of the many added afterwardfew died, because of Tony's skilful treatment and her own faithfulcare. Every morning when the day proved fair the little ambulance wentout upon its charitable errand; every afternoon Nelly worked for thehuman sufferers whom she loved; and every evening brother Will readaloud to her from useful books, showed her wonders with his microscope, or prescribed remedies for the patients, whom he soon knew by name andtook much interest in. It was Nelly's holiday; but, though she studiedno lessons, she learned much, and unconsciously made her pretty playboth an example and a rebuke for others. At first it seemed a childish pastime, and people laughed. But therewas something in the familiar words "sanitary, " "hospital" and"ambulance" that made them pleasant sounds to many ears. As reports ofNelly's work went through the neighborhood, other children came to seeand copy her design. Rough lads looked ashamed when in her wards theyfound harmless creatures hurt by them, and going out they said amongthemselves, "We won't stone birds, chase butterflies, and drown thegirls' little cats any more, though we won't tell them so. " And most ofthe lads kept their word so well that people said there never had beenso many birds before as all that summer haunted wood and field. Tender-hearted playmates brought their pets to be cured; even busyfarmers bad a friendly word for the small charity, which reminded themso sweetly of the great one which should never be forgotten; lonelymothers sometimes looked out with wet eyes as the little ambulance wentby, recalling thoughts or absent sons who might be journeying painfullyto some far-off hospital, where brave women waited to tend them withhands as willing, hearts as tender, as those the gentle child gave toher self-appointed task. At home the charm worked also. No more idle days for Nelly, or fretfulones for Will, because the little sister would not neglect the helplesscreatures so dependent upon her, and the big brother was ashamed tocomplain after watching the patience of these lesser sufferers, andmerrily said he would try to bear his own wound as quietly and bravelyas the "Commodore" bore his. Nelly never knew how much good she haddone Captain Will till he went away again in the early autumn. Then hethanked her for it, and though she cried for joy and sorrow she neverforgot it, because he left something behind him which always pleasantlyreminded her of the double success her little hospital had won. When Will was gone and she had prayed softly in her heart that Godwould keep him safe and bring him home again, she dried her tears andwent away to find comfort in the place where he had spent so many happyhours with her. She had not been there before that day, and when shereached the door she stood quite still and wanted very much to cryagain, far something beautiful had happened. She had often asked Willfor a motto for her hospital, and he had promised to find her one. Shethought he had forgotten it; but even in the hurry of that busy day hehad found time to do more than keep his word, while Nelly sat indoors, lovingly brightening the tarnished buttons on the blue coat that hadseen so many battles. Above the roof, where the doves cooed in the sun, now rustled a whiteflag with the golden "S. C. " shining on it as the wind tossed it to andfro. Below, on the smooth panel of the door, a skilful pencil haddrawn two arching ferns, in whose soft shadow, poised upon a mushroom, stood a little figure of Nurse Nelly, and underneath it another of Dr. Tony bottling medicine, with spectacles upon his nose. Both hands ofthe miniature Nelly were outstretched, as if beckoning to a train ofinsects, birds and beasts, which was so long that it not only circledround the lower rim of this fine sketch, but dwindled in the distanceto mere dots and lines. Such merry conceits as one found there! Amouse bringing the tail it had lost in some cruel trap, a dor-bug witha shade over its eyes, an invalid butterfly carried in a tiny litter bylong-legged spiders, a fat frog with gouty feet hopping upon crutches, Jenny Wren sobbing in a nice handkerchief, as she brought dear deadCock Robin to be restored to life. Rabbits, lambs, cats, calves, andturtles, all came trooping up to be healed by the benevolent littlemaid who welcomed them so heartily. Nelly laughed at these comical mites till the tears ran down hercheeks, and thought she never could be tired of looking at them. Butpresently she saw four lines clearly printed underneath her picture, and her childish face grew sweetly serious as she read the words of agreat poet, which Will had made both compliment and motto:-- "He prayeth best who loveth best All things, both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all. "