THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER

Vol. XX.—No. 1007.]

[Price One Penny.

APRIL 15, 1899.

[Transcriber’s Note: This Table of Contents was not present in the original.]

[“OUR HERO.”]
[OLD ENGLISH COTTAGE HOMES.]
[OUR MEDICINE CHEST.]
[VARIETIES.]
[“THE SONG THE RAINDROPS SING.”]
[THE HOUSE WITH THE VERANDAH.]
[OUR PUZZLE REPORT: A WELL-BRED GIRL (No. 2).]
[SHEILA.]
[ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.]
[FOREIGN AWARDS.]
[GENTLEMAN’S DRESS SHIRT PROTECTOR.]

[“OUR HERO.”]

By AGNES GIBERNE, Author of “Sun, Moon and Stars,” “The Girl at the Dower House,” etc.

“‘PRAY FOR ME, THAT I MAY MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS.’”

All rights reserved.]

CHAPTER XXIX.

ROY BARON’S FIRST CAMPAIGN.

In the press and excitement of this his first campaign, Roy did not lose sight of Molly’s suggestion that he should keep a slight journal of the course of events. The plan commended itself to him, and he carried it out, albeit in somewhat fitful style. His entries were brief and irregular, yet in the future they might well prove to be of interest to himself and his friends.

The life that he had led, more especially his Bitche experiences, had tended to give him an unusually thoughtful turn for his age; and he was not troubled by the smallest difficulty in expressing himself on paper. To write was as easy to Roy as to speak.

For very obvious reasons, however, the journal was scarcely started before he decided not to send any part of it to Molly, but to write separate letters to her, as occasion served, keeping his memoranda for the present to himself.

“Oct. 11th, 1808.

“At last the chief Command has been bestowed where it should be; and for five days past Sir John has been at the Head of Affairs. Some hope now that things will go right! Jack says that when Sir John was first placed third in command, after being first, he declared that fight for his Country he would, and no man should Hinder him; and if the King saw fit to bid him act as Ensign, he would unhesitatingly obey.

“Strict Orders are issued that we are to be excessive Polite toward the Spaniards, they being somewhat warm in their Tempers.

“Oct. 16th.

“Salamanca to be the general Rendez-vous. The different Divisions follow at intervals by different Routes. The Spaniards are declared on all hands to be gloriously enthusiastic—the French weak, and far out-numbered by them.

“Oct. 28th. Sacavem.

“Early in the day still. Scarce an hour since I came across Major Charles Stanhope and Major Charles Napier breakfasting together under an olive tree.[1] They were talking eagerly—not hard to guess the subject! I caught words as I passed; and ’twas as I would have conjectured, admiration of our General.[1] What Moore is and what Moore may do are the theme of all. Was ever man more beloved than he?

“The three Napier brothers are gallant fellows—which the more so ’twould be hard to say. A little later, on my way, I met Jack’s friend, George Napier, who is Aide-de-camp to Moore, and had some words with him—a fine fellow indeed, and ardently devoted to our General. ‘Any tidings from Verdun of late?’ he asked me. I would there were!

“Nov. 8th. Almeida.

“Nearing fast the borders of Portugal. Reports continue to reach us of the immense and warlike enthusiasm of the Spaniards. Even the peasantry, ’tis declared, are Ardent to fight. Sixty or seventy thousand Spanish soldiers, under their Generals, Blake and Romana, await our advance, and they are said to be ‘full of contempt’ for the French. Jack says contempt won’t help ’em so well as hard fighting. Boney is no Enemy to be despised. But at most there are, if accounts be true, only some fifty thousand French to be dealt with, and our twenty-five thousand, backed up by the entire Spanish Army, should be well equal to that.[2]

“Nov. 11th.

“Little baggage allowed. Conveyance the grand difficulty. Some grumbling at this. A lot of young fellows here, who have never been in the field before, and who don’t know what to make of Discomfort. Seem to expect that everything should be as in Barracks at Home! Good for me to have had experience of a Bitche dungeon. That’s like to knock the softness out of a fellow, if anything would.

“The General toils night and day unceasingly. What he gets through is Amazing. Large number in our force of untrained levies, and these have to be, as Major Napier would say, ‘drilled and rattled’ into shape. The difference in ’em already wouldn’t be believed. One man has had unfortunately to be shot for marauding; otherwise discipline is splendid, and everybody in the Highest Spirits.

“The Portuguese nobles en route have received Sir John well at their private houses. Country we’ve come through anything but beautiful. Villages wretched. Roads not so bad as reported beforehand by the Portuguese. Red cockades ready—ordered to be worn by the whole force so soon as we cross the border, in compliment to the Spanish.

“Nov. 12th. Ciudad Rodrigo.

“Here we are in Spain. Red cockades in full swing. Little time for writing. Everybody busy, and the General has his eye on each one. Grand reception of him here by the Spaniards; and shouts of ‘Vivan l’Ingleterra y l’Inglese!’ Doing my best to get up a smattering of Spanish. Find my knowledge of French useful already; likely to be more so.

“Rodrigo stands high; right bank of the Agueda. Had time to take a look at the ancient rampart yesterday evening, Jack and I together. The word ‘rampart’ brings Verdun to mind, and all who are there. What wouldn’t Denham give to be here!—and what wouldn’t I give to have him! Yet I often think how lucky it was I knocked down that bust, and got myself sent to Bitche! But for that, I might be kicking up my heels at Verdun to this day.

“Nov. 13th. Salamanca.

“At the general Rendez-vous! Grand sight to see the Regiments come in—splendid fellows, ready for anything—and the Colours flying. All long for but one thing—to meet the French, and have at ’em!

“General Moore has arrived this afternoon—looking harassed and weary, Jack says, who saw him; and he confesses to feeling jaded. But there’s no sort of rest for one in his position.

“Country-folk hereabout seem mightily struck with Amaze at the Ways of our Army, and everything being paid down for as it is, after the manner they’ve been handled by the French soldiers in the past.

“Nov. 15th. Salamanca.

“French Army reported to be advancing, and only 20 leagues off. Both Spanish Generals retiring before ’em. Question now is, whether Castanos, commanding the third Spanish division, will make any better stand. Our troops are coming up in detachments; quicker advance impossible, for lack of transport. Three brigades of Infantry here, and not one gun! I hear they can’t hope to Concentrate the whole force in less than a fortnight. Let’s hope the French may leave us alone till then.

“If Castanos should run away too, some say we may ourselves be forced to retreat. But that’s not the common expectation; and Retreat is the last word that Moore will utter, without dire need. Jack of course hears more than I do, not only being Captain, and having known Sir John in private life, but also having more than one intimate friend on the Staff. Privately he tells me he does not believe Sir John to have any enormous faith in Spanish enthusiasm; but that is not known to most.

“Nov. 22nd.

“The way Sir John works! ’Tis enough to make laggards ashamed! Each morning regularly he’s up betimes, between three and four, and lights his own fire from the lamp kept burning in his room. Then he writes hard till eight, when the ‘Officers of the Family’ breakfast with him. Breakfast over, he sees the Generals and anyone who may have business to communicate, and issues his Orders. As he writes all his letters with his own hand, he is often at that a great part of the forenoon as well as in the early morning—till he rides out, either to reconnoitre or to review the Troops. At dinner he has commonly from fifteen to twenty officers at his table, and he is then at his best, and talks much and freely with them all. He keeps a good table, but is himself a most moderate eater, and drinks wine sparingly. Dinner over, he is again at his writing and despatches, and goes to bed, if he may, at ten, but often he is prevented. Our Chief lives indeed a life of Toil. No marvel if at times he has a worn look.

“Nov. 29th. Salamanca.

“Castanos has been beaten by the French at Tudela; and ’tis now pretty clear that the ‘retiring’ of the other Spanish troops meant a thorough drubbing. We hear that the Spaniards are provided with neither clothing nor shoes, arms nor ammunition, and for days together have no bread. What can be expected of them in such case?

“Some fear that Retreat on our part may become needful; others scout the notion. I heartily hope we may first have a brush with the Enemy.

“Dec. 10th.

“At Salamanca still; tho’ ’tis now ten days since the General gave orders to make ready for Retreat.

“Dec. 11th.

“Hurrah! Hurrah! Moore—glorious fellow!—will not retire, without giving the Spaniards one more chance.

“Jack says he has been assured in the strongest manner that all is not yet up; that Castanos is far from utterly routed; that some of the Provinces are warmly patriotic, and ready to sacrifice their all for freedom from the French yoke. Two Spanish Generals, arrived in our Camp, speak with enthusiasm of the Undismayed Courage and Resolution of the Spanish Army, despite some late unfortunate Reverses. In short, one more effort is to be made. Without delay, the whole British force, now at Salamanca, is to make a rapid advance. Jack gathers that the plan will be to attack Marshal Soult beyond the Carrion. We hope now at last to meet the foe. That is enough for us!

“Dec. 14th.

“Madrid has fallen—after holding out against Napoleon one day! So much for Spanish enthusiasm. But we are advancing still towards Saldana, where Soult lies. All in the best of spirits.

“Dec. 21st. Sahagun.

“Sharp brush with the Enemy yesterday. News came that the French Cavalry, to the number of 700, lay at Sahagun. Lord Paget,[3] with the 15th Hussars, about 400 men, went to surprise them. In one charge he put ’em to the rout, taking 150 prisoners. Well done, Hussars! Sir John thanked them right heartily when he got here. Every man in the force is burning to get at the Enemy. Desperate cold weather. Snow everywhere.

“Dec. 23rd. Sahagun.

“All is up with our hopes of striking a blow at Soult. One more night, and we should have come up with him. Now the forward march is countermanded. Seems that Napoleon is making a rush to cut off our communication with the coast. I suppose there isn’t a man of us that wouldn’t still go on, in the face of any odds. But Sir John asks no advice. He is quiet, resolved, with never a look of hesitation.

“Yet having come so far, now to go back, with nothing done—’tis an awful disappointment. Some, much as they love Sir John, are bitter about it, and will not or cannot see the need. Jack trusts him fully, and says he understands,—Boney has been too sharp. If he can cross our communications with Portugal, we shall just find ourselves between him and Soult, and the Spanish Armies nowhere.

“So we cross the Esla at once—that’s to say, the Army begins to-day. Our Regiment, luckily, is one of the Reserve, and we shall be among the last to retire.”

All this was true, as jotted down by Roy; and very much besides that no man in the camp knew, except Moore and his most intimate friends.

When the news first arrived of the collapse of three Spanish forces, Moore at first planned an immediate retreat to Portugal, there to await fresh reinforcements from England.

But when one assurance after another was given that the Spaniards were still in the mood to fight, with vehement urging that he would not leave them to their fate, he at length resolved to give them another opportunity to show themselves men.

A daring conception came to his mind, and was rapidly acted upon. Instead of retiring at once to a position of safety, he would first make a swoop upon Soult’s Army, thus threatening the line of Napoleon’s communications with France. And his object in so doing was, simply and definitely, to draw the whole weight of the Conqueror’s fury upon himself and his small British Army, thus relieving the terrible pressure upon the more southern provinces of Spain.

It was a startling and a hazardous step. In the hand of any less brilliant and experienced Commander, it might have ended in an awful disaster—in a modern Thermopylæ on a huge scale—in the complete destruction of the entire British force. But Moore knew what he was about.

That brought matters to a point. Napoleon had expected, as a matter of course, that Moore would retreat so soon as the Spanish Armies melted away. What else could he do? Napoleon at this date had in Spain not less than 330,000 soldiers, 60,000 horses, and 200 pieces of field artillery. Moore had with him less than 24,000 soldiers, and perhaps another 10,000 in Portugal, including 4,000 in hospital.

Then, to Napoleon’s unbounded amazement, he learnt—getting the news on December 21—that, in place of retreating, the puny English force was boldly advancing towards the Douro.

The Emperor’s exclamation, as heard by Marshal Ney, and afterwards repeated by him to Major Charles Napier, was—

“Moore is the only General now fit to contend with me! I shall advance against him in person.”

That Sir John Moore had thoroughly grasped the situation, and that he understood to the full the perils of his position, may be seen from his own letters. As early as the 26th of November, he had written from Salamanca, in confidence, to one of his brothers—

“Upon entering Spain, I have found affairs in a very different state from what I expected, or from what they are thought to be in England. I am in a scrape, from which God knows how I am to extricate myself! But, instead of Salamanca, this Army should have been assembled at Seville.” And at the close of a full and clear statement of the whole matter—“I understand all is fear and confusion at Madrid. Tell James it is difficult to judge at a distance. The Spaniards have not shown themselves a wise or a provident people. Their wisdom is not a wisdom of action; but still they are a fine people; a character of their own, quite distinct from other nations; and much might have been done with them. Perhaps they may rouse again. Pray for me, that I may make right decisions. If I make bad ones, it will not be for want of consideration. I sleep little. It is now only five in the morning; and I have concluded, since I got up, this long letter.”

The whole letter is very patient and calm; and especially touching are those simple words, “Pray for me,” from a man so intensely reserved on religious questions. If words are needed to show what he was, besides the plain utterance of such a character and life as his, these alone would serve to make clear that silence on his part meant neither lack of thought nor lack of feeling.

Again, on the 23rd of December, he wrote to the British Envoy in Spain—“I march this night to Carrion, and the next day to Saldana, to attack the corps under Marshal Soult.... Buonaparte is dating his proclamations from Madrid; and as to the British Army, if it were in a neutral or Enemy’s country, it could not be more completely left to itself. If the Spaniards are enthusiasts, or much interested in this cause, their conduct is the most extraordinary that ever was exhibited. The movement I am making is of the most dangerous kind. I not only risk to be surrounded every moment by superior forces, but to have my communication intercepted with the Galicias. I wish it to be apparent to the whole world, as it is to every individual of the Army, that we have done everything in our power in support of the Spanish cause; and that we do not abandon it until long after the Spaniards had abandoned us.”

Buonaparte seldom did things by halves; and he acted now with even more than his usual energy.

The force and genius of this English Commander, by whom he was so daringly opposed, had suddenly burst upon him; and he at once realised that no ordinary effort on his part would ensure to him the victory. To oppose Moore’s twenty-three thousand men with only another twenty-eight or thirty thousand was not to be thought of. That might mean disaster.

Without an hour’s delay, orders went forth to check the southward march of his columns, and, as a first step, to pour fifty thousand men in a torrent across the snowy Guadarrama hills, that they might cut off the retreat of Moore to the coast.

His object was, to place the small force of Moore between the great Army of the south and the other French corps under Soult, consisting of some twenty-five or thirty thousand men. That once done, the crushing out of existence of the British Army might be looked upon as a mere matter of detail. At any moment Napoleon could supplement his first fifty thousand with another fifty or hundred thousand.[4]

But Napoleon’s fierce northward rush was exactly what Sir John Moore had intended to bring about. He had drawn away the main body of the French Army from the harassed south; he had given the Spaniards a breathing-space in which to rally, if they would, for renewed resistance; and he had for the moment saved Portugal from desperate peril.

Twenty-three thousand men, with eight or ten thousand more out of reach, opposed to seventy or eighty thousand, with a hundred thousand more within reach! Two thousand cavalry pitted against at least five times their number! A collie-dog snapping at the heels of a Bengal tiger would be no inapt picture of Moore’s desperate daring. Well might he write—

“With such a force as mine I can pretend to do no more. It would only be losing this Army to Spain and to England to persevere in my march on Soult; who, if posted strongly, might wait; or, if not, would retire and draw me on until the corps from Madrid got behind me.[5] In short, single-handed, I cannot pretend to contend with the superior numbers the French can bring against me.”

There was, indeed, not a moment to be lost. By forced marches and the utmost expedition the first and most perilous stage was accomplished. The River Esla was crossed—and not too soon. Napoleon, pushing furiously forward, bent heart and mind on getting to Benevente before the English, found himself twelve hours too late. Moore had precisely reckoned his time and had neatly baffled Europe’s Conqueror.

A few days later, on the 1st of January, 1809, Napoleon underwent a second dire mortification. He reached Astorga, for which he had been aiming, again straining every nerve with the hope of cutting off Moore’s retreat—and as at Esla, he was once more a day too late. A second time Moore had quietly slipped away out of his grasp.

While here, Napoleon had unexpected news. He heard of the fresh alliance between Russia and Austria; and he heard that an attack upon France during his absence was being planned. This altered the face of matters. The crushing of Spain, delayed by Moore’s action, had to be put off indefinitely. Napoleon, with a large body of troops, hurried back to Paris. But he left Soult and Ney in command of about sixty thousand men, in two columns, one to attack Moore in rear, the other to take him in flank, while thousands scattered about the country were advancing to support the attack.

Enough, in all conscience, one would imagine, to deal with a retreating force of less than twenty-four thousand!

(To be continued.)

[OLD ENGLISH COTTAGE HOMES;]
OR,
VILLAGE ARCHITECTURE OF BYGONE TIMES.

PART VII.

Brick seems, as we pointed out in our last paper, to have been generally preferred to stone for house and cottage building in this country from the sixteenth century, but during the earlier centuries, and in places where good stone was easily procurable, the latter was frequently used, even in the erection of cottages. A charming example dating from the fourteenth century exists in a very perfect condition at West Dean in Sussex. It has graceful and elegant traceried stone-cut windows and doorways, and is a carefully constructed little building showing excellent though simple Gothic details.

AT AMERSHAM.

Cottages built of brick with stone “dressing” are common all over England, especially in almshouses. At Amersham are six little cottages built round an open courtyard. An inscription over the archway leading to the garden informs us that these cottages were built by “Sir William Drake, Barronet (sic), in the year of our Lord 1657, to the glory of God, and for the relief of six poor widows well reputed in this parish.” It is a pleasant home for these good old people and a pretty retreat where they may spend the remainder of their days in peace. There are many such in England: would there were many more! How far more pleasant it is to think of these poor old souls quietly living out the few months or years of existence, waiting for God to call them, in such an abode rather than in a workhouse, with its hard and fast rules, or some pretentious-looking asylum where official charity seems to stare one in the face at every turn. No doubt in these modern institutions sanitary arrangements are better, and matters are more practically attended to, but something seems to be wanting in them: they do not look like “homes.” We may perhaps be too sentimental, and possibly are arguing from what we should ourselves feel if placed in a similar situation, indeed we have known cases in which the poor old folks in the country have rejoiced at their quaint old habitations being pulled down and replaced by brand new houses.

AT WEST DEAN, SUSSEX.

We were once drawing two streets, one a bit of a pretty old village, and the other a modern suburban street which we had tried to make look as detestable as possible, when a lady called upon us and looked at the two. “Ah,” said she, “I am so glad that these tumbledown old cottages are going to be replaced by your smart and cheerful-looking villas!” We thought at first that it was a joke, but no, she was absolutely serious!

A few years back a very eminent Member of Parliament succeeded to the possession of what was at that time the most perfect mediæval village in England, every cottage dating back to the sixteenth or seventeenth century. I was told of this absolutely unique place and went to see it. To my horror I found a large gang of workmen busy upon what appeared to be wholesale destruction. Upon inquiry I was told that Sir —— —— was such an excellent landlord that he was rebuilding all the houses of his tenants! There appeared to be little reason for this work, as the old cottages which were being pulled down looked as if they would stand quite as long as the new ones, and even if modern requirements were supposed to necessitate different arrangements to those which satisfied our forefathers, the beautiful old gables, with their ornamental oak badge-boards and timber framing, might have been preserved, as the line of frontage was not changed or the street widened.

This feeling is, however, by no means universal, and we have known cases where those who have lived in old cottages which have been condemned to destruction have offered to buy the sketch we were making, as a recollection of the “dear old home.”

Unfortunately, however, now people have no “homes” for the most part, our population is becoming nomadic, and folks move about every three years.

A friend of ours told us that he had “moved” eleven times in ten years! Now what love of his home can a man feel who spends ten months in each house. At Rothenberg in Bavaria, I was buying some bread at a baker’s shop, when I happened to see a carved stone sign over the doorway dated 1590. I remarked to the baker, “It is rather a coincidence that it should have been a baker’s then.” “Oh,” said he, “it has always been a baker’s, and always in the hands of the same family.” What is still more remarkable is the fact that at Mont St. Michel in Normandy, until some three or four years back there was a house which had been for six centuries the home of the same family, but now the last member of the old stock is dead. Now that was indeed a home, but what “rolling stones” we have all become! Our very cats shame us. Pussy often absolutely refuses to move. I once took a house, and the cat belonging to the former tenants insisted upon remaining in the house. They took him away with them, but he came back with the milkman in the morning. We turned him out again, but he took up his residence in an outhouse, and had his eye so fixed upon the back door that the moment it was opened, he found his way in and sat in front of the kitchen fire. In vain did the cook “rout him out,” and declare that he had “no rights in her kitchen.” He maintained his rights, and point-blank refused to budge. At last we absolutely took a great liking to the animal, which showed such an attachment to his home. Directly he gained his way he became very affectionate, and was a most amiable companion to the children. By a curious coincidence he died the very day before we left that house!

Love of the very place called “home” is a sentiment which should in every way be encouraged, and it is greatly to be regretted that it seems to be dying out, and we much fear that “flats” will give it its deathblow.

(To be continued.)

[OUR MEDICINE CHEST.]

By “THE NEW DOCTOR.”

PART II.

THE MEDICAL DRAWER.

ow many of our readers know how to perform artificial respiration? Only a very small proportion, we are afraid. Yet everyone ought to know how to do it, for rarely does a girl go through her life without encountering a situation where a knowledge of how to perform artificial respiration would be the means of saving the life of one of her fellow creatures.

Every girl ought to be taught how to perform artificial respiration when she is at school. This immensely important aid ought to be able to be rendered by every man, woman or child in the world. It is the most important, and perhaps the easiest of all measures for the saving of life.

Let us see if we can explain to you how to perform artificial respiration. Two persons are required. Place the patient on her back, open her mouth, pull her tongue forward and wipe out her mouth and throat, so as to clear it of any blood or whatever it may contain, which would hinder the air from entering her chest.

Each of you must then take hold of one arm, with one hand grasping the forearm and the other grasping the upper arm. Now start. Slowly draw the arms away from the chest and elevate them above the head. Pull the arms as high above the head as you possibly can. Rest for two seconds, then slowly bring the arms down again to the side of the chest, cross them over the chest, press upon the chest, and gently press upon the pit of the stomach. Again rest for two seconds, then elevate the arms again and repeat the performance as long as necessary. Never be in a hurry. The performance is no good at all unless it is done slowly.

Now we will tell you where artificial respiration is necessary.

Suppose you are on the scene when a person is dragged out of the water after drowning. The person is unconscious, but not dead. What are you going to do? Place her on her chest, and squeeze out of her chest any water that you can. Wipe out her mouth and throat. Pull out her tongue, turn her on to her back, and perform artificial respiration. Get someone else to wrap her up in blankets, and apply warmth to the extremities. But do not discontinue the artificial respiration until a surgeon arrives, or until the patient breathes regularly in a normal way, or until some other pair of philanthropists relieve you.

If you find a person hanging, cut her down, wipe out her mouth and perform artificial respiration at once.

If someone is found unconscious in a room where gas is escaping, bring her out into the fresh air and perform artificial respiration at once.

If a person is suffocated in the smoke of a fire, or an infant is smothered by the bed-clothes, take her out into the fresh air and perform artificial respiration at once.

In all these cases, the patients are in the greatest peril of their lives, and if you run after assistance, they will die in your absence. But one might almost say that a person cannot die while proper artificial respiration is being performed upon her.

Now let us wander to another emergency—the treatment of acute poisoning.

First find out if you can what poison the person has taken. Most poisons cause vomiting, intense pain in the stomach, collapse with pallor and coldness of the fingers and toes, and cold sweats. Purging, cramps in the calves, unconsciousness, and heavy noisy breathing are also common.

The cause of the symptoms of poisoning is the presence of the poison in the body. Therefore the first item of treatment is to get as much of the poison as you can out of the body. Therefore make the patient vomit. Give her an emetic for every poison except the strong mineral acids (sulphuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids) and the strong alkalies (caustic soda, caustic potash, and strong solution of ammonia). In poisoning from these you must not give an emetic.

The best of all emetics is a large tablespoonful of mustard in a tumblerful of tepid water. Therefore in poisoning from anything except the six drugs mentioned above, give mustard and water before you do anything else.

Then loosen the clothes about the person’s neck, and apply warmth to her extremities. The further treatment depends upon the nature of the poison.

For the strong acids, sulphuric, nitric, hydrochloric and acetic, give the patient magnesia, if you have it handy. If not, give her dilute solution of soda.

For the alkalies, caustic soda, caustic potash, or ammonia, give dilute vinegar. For poisoning with copper or mercury salts, give white of eggs. For oxalic acid or salts of lemon or salts of sorrel, give lime or chalk. For opium, give hot coffee and perform artificial respiration. For prussic acid or cyanide of potassium, apply cold water to the spine, and perform artificial respiration.

If you have done these things, the doctor, when he arrives, will probably find the patient at all events alive. The further treatment, of course, belongs to him. But if you have rendered your first aid, it will make a very great difference to the patient.

Let us leave this chapter of horrors. But one moment—we want to say something to you about fainting. We suppose it has been the experience of very nearly everybody to see a girl faint in church.

It is rather a hot stuffy day in July, and Miss Jones goes to church; but the place is rather more crowded than customary, for the sermon promises to be more interesting than usual.

About the middle of the service Miss Jones feels “queer.” She reels a bit, utters a faint cry and falls down “in a heap” fainting. Confusion at once reigns. The gentlemen about her lift her up, elevate her head and take her out of the church.

What is a faint? It is the momentary cessation of the heart’s action. The heart stops for a second. The brain is deprived of blood. It instantly ceases its function. The body drops as if inanimate. It is this dropping down in a heap which prevents the brain from being deprived of blood for long. It is this which saves the person from danger.

When a person falls down in a faint, leave her alone. Unloose her collar if you like, but under no circumstances should you elevate her head. Let her head be the lowest part of her body. Remember this! Let the head of a fainting person be the lowest part of the body.

Afterwards you may give her a little sal volatile and fresh air. But it really does not matter what you do as long as you pay attention to the position of the head.

Oh, by the way, we were talking about our medicine chest! Let us return to our subject, and exactly describe the box and its fittings. The box should be made of metal, not wood. The reason for this is that metal is such a clean material, and when it has been soiled, it is a simple matter to wash it, whereas wood holds the dirt, and is not by any means so easily cleaned.

A japanned cash-box makes as good a medicine chest as anything. One about twelve inches long, six inches broad, and six inches deep, makes a capital medicine chest. Certainly it is quite large enough! What would you have? What is the good of a medicine box that you cannot carry about?

We keep a medicine chest of the size above mentioned. We find it quite large enough for when we are travelling “off duty.” It is quite sufficiently large to carry all that we require for emergencies. Of course it is furnished differently from what yours should be; but, as regards size, it is only ten inches long, six inches broad, and six inches deep.

A new cash-box makes the best of all medicine chests. No, you do not want partitions, nooks and crannies. The simpler the box is the better. But it must be clean. When you have got your box, dust it and rinse it out with warm carbolic solution, and let it thoroughly dry.

Now let us start to furnish it. Surgical necessities first.

A glass syringe, about eight inches long, with the piston fitted with an asbestos plug, and not wound round with string. This is useful for washing wounds, etc. A needle mounted in a holder for removing splinters, etc. A pair of small, well-made, nickel-plated forceps for removing splinters, etc. A pair of small, blunt-pointed, nickel-plated dressing scissors. These scissors are for cutting dressings, etc. No other pair of scissors must be used for dressings, and the dressing scissors must never be used for any other purpose.

These are all the instruments you require. They should be kept scrupulously clean, and wrapped up in small pieces of chamois leather when put away.

The dressings you require are these: Sal alembroth gauze. This is absorbent gauze impregnated with perchloride of mercury. It is coloured blue to distinguish it from other kinds of gauze. We have described how it is used for dressing wounds. It is an excellent material with which to dress any abrasion or cut or raw surface.

We are not going to allow you to have any poisons in your box, except carbolic acid. We must allow this, for it is indispensable. Oh, it is not that we do not trust you with poisons; but no one who is not a physician ought to keep poisons in her house, for you never know who may meddle with them. And besides, you can never get a sufficient knowledge of drugs to enable you to use any of the poisons with safety. Of course, perchloride of mercury is a very powerful poison, and so we suppose that sal alembroth gauze is too; but it is quite safe to keep it, and it can no more be called a poison than can lead water-pipes or silver spoons.

The second dressing you require is lint. This is very useful for many purposes, such as for spreading ointment upon or for making fomentations.

Then you want cotton wool. Either the best white absorbent wool or else the blue wool—the companion to sal alembroth gauze.

For bandages keep white calico ones, eight yards long, and two and one inches broad.

Just a little piece of sticking-plaster to keep dressings upon the face, where bandaging is difficult, and a fair-sized piece of either oiled silk or green protective to cover over fomentations, complete the list.

A half-pint bottle of carbolic acid dissolved in water (1 in 20) is the first application required. Then you want about an ounce of powdered boracic acid for dressing wounds; and an ounce pot of boracic acid and eucalyptus ointment.

To allay the pain of bruises do not use tincture of arnica; but apply the following lotion on a piece of uncovered lint: one part of spirit and one part of solution of acetate of ammonia (B.P.) to eight parts of water. When the pain of a bruise has been allayed, the absorption of the residual swelling and discoloration may be hastened by gentle massage. So much for the surgical requisites.

We are of opinion that the less you have to do with drugs the better. People cannot understand that if a drug has a powerful action in disease—if, for instance, a drug will stop convulsions—it will have an action if given to a perfectly healthy person, and that action will do harm to the body.

The drugs which we advise you to keep in your medicine chest are all perfectly safe; but at the same time they all have definite actions. The liquids should be kept in half-ounce bottles. They should be labelled with the names of the drugs, their doses, and the complaints for which they are used.

Mind you, this box is to treat emergencies. It is to serve you when you cannot obtain medical aid. Do not imagine that when you possess this box you can consider yourself independent of medical science. This box is for emergencies, and for emergencies only.

These are the preparations the box should contain:—

1. Sal Volatile.—For fainting. Half a teaspoonful in a small wineglassful of water.

2. Brandy.—A teaspoonful—not more—for collapse from poisoning after an emetic has been given and has acted. Also for fainting and colic. People always give too much brandy. A teaspoonful at a time is ample. If necessary, this dose may be repeated.

3. Ipecacuanha Wine.—For the early stages of cough. Ten to twenty drops on a lump of sugar or in water. For children two to eight drops. This is one of the very few drugs which may be given to children for cough.

4. Oxymel of Squills.—A very useful preparation for cough with profuse expectoration. Especially useful for elderly persons, the subjects of chronic winter cough. The dose is half a teaspoonful.

5. Solution of Carbonate of Ammonia (1 in 10).—A very useful adjunct to the two former for coughs. The dose is ten to thirty minims in water, either with or without ipecacuanha or squills.

6. Spirit of Ginger.—Half a teaspoonful of this in a wineglassful of water will relieve flatulency, colic, and diarrhœa.

All these liquids must be measured. A glass minim measure must therefore be kept in the box.

These are all the liquids. Not a very formidable list, is it? Now for the solids. The best way to keep these is in the form of pills or tabloids. Some, however, are best as powders.

7. Liquorice Powder.—Dose, one teaspoonful. Mild aperient. Best kept as a powder.

8. Bicarbonate of Soda.—One of the most valuable of all medicines. Dose, ten to thirty grains or more. For indigestion with acidity. May be kept in powder or in tabloids.

9. Bicarbonate of Soda and Sub-nitrate of Bismuth.—For indigestion with vomiting. Best kept in the form of tabloids containing two and a half grains of each. One to four tabloids is the dose.

10. Calomel.—Infinitely and beyond all comparison the most valuable of all drugs that act on the stomach, the liver, or the bowels. Used chiefly for dyspepsia, especially “liver attacks.” It is best kept in tabloids containing one grain each. Dose, one to two tabloids.

11. Phenacetin and Caffeine.—Best kept in the form of tabloids containing four grains of phenacetin to one of caffeine, or three grains of each. Dose, one tabloid for headaches.

12. Pill of Aloes and Nux Vomica.—Of the following formula: aloin, one and a half grains, extract of nux vomica, quarter of a grain. An excellent aperient for chronic cases.

Besides these always have in the house the following drugs:—

Mustard.—As an emetic, one tablespoonful in a tumbler of tepid water. It is also useful for making mustard plasters.

Epsom Salts and Seidlitz Powders and Alum which is very useful as a gargle for sore throats. The gargle may be made of the strength of two in a hundred.

We have described our medicine chest for emergencies. No one can say that it is elaborate or costly. Yet we know you are disappointed with it. You wanted something more pretentious. But if you follow our instructions and use the various items as we have directed, you will soon find that you have got all that is absolutely necessary for the treatment of emergencies—that is, as far as you yourself can treat them in the absence of a doctor.

Before we leave you we wish to make one request. That is: If you follow our advice and fit up your box as we have directed, you will add nothing else thereto. No, nothing whatever—not even to fill up an awkward corner.

[VARIETIES.]

All Will Come Right.

Things can never go badly wrong

If the heart be true and the love be strong,

For the mist, if it comes, and the weeping rain

Will be changed by the love into sunshine again.—George MacDonald.

In Praise of Work.—Work drives away depression, whets the appetite for food, invites sleep, promotes digestion, strengthens the muscles and sinews, gives free circulation to the blood, stimulates the intellectual faculties, provides the comforts of life, develops all the powers which it brings into exercise, transforms stupid ignorance into brilliant genius, fills the world with works of art and literature, and develops the resources of nature. Nothing can stand before work.

Well Named.

Bainbridge: “I know why they are called fugitive poems.”

Goldsborough: “Why?”

Bainbridge: “Because the author had to run for his life.”

Be Wise To-day.—“Dear young friends,” says a popular preacher of the present day, “begin right. You will never find it so easy to make any decisive step as just now. You will get less and less flexible as you grow older. You will get set in your ways. Habits will twine their tendrils round you and hinder your free movement. The truths of the Gospel will become commonplace by familiarity. Associations and companions will get more and more powerful, and you will stiffen as a tree trunk becomes stiffened with the growth of years. Be wise to-day.”

Printers’ Errors.

In the early half of the present century it was announced in a London newspaper that “Sir Robert Peel, with a party of fiends, was shooting peasants in Ireland,” whereas the Minister and his friends were only indulging in the comparatively harmless amusement of pheasant-shooting.

Shortly after the battle of Inkerman one of the morning papers informed its readers that “after a desperate struggle the enemy was repulsed with great laughter.” The omission of a single letter has rarely perhaps played more havoc with a subject which was certainly no laughing matter.

No more fault-finding.—The business of fault-finding would soon come to an end if every fault-finder could be only introduced to herself.

“THE GUIDING LIGHT.”

(From the painting by Marcella Walker.)

[“THE SONG THE RAINDROPS SING.”]

By AUGUSTA BRYERS.

I stood within my garden,

While fell the gentle rain

On thirsty leaf and blossom,

To bid them smile again.

But my heart mourn’d sore the sunbeams

And all the joys they bring,

Till I heard, like sweet bells chiming,

The song the raindrops sing.

They told of fading flow’rets,

Of little leaves that die,

While the lark soars on unceasing,

And the sunlight floods the sky.

And they said, “We are not teardrops,

But tend’rest show’rs of love,

To cheer the heart that’s weary,

And lift sad eyes above.”

And I thought, as fell the raindrops

On fainting buds and leaves,

So may sweet words and hopeful

Wake for the heart that grieves.

That to the world’s great garden

Each may his harvest bring,

Thro’ the sunshine or the storm-cloud,

Or the song the raindrops sing.

[THE HOUSE WITH THE VERANDAH.]

By ISABELLA FYVIE MAYO, Author of “Other People’s Stairs,” “Her Object in Life,” etc.

CHAPTER III.

AS A LITTLE CHILD.

The day after the episode with Pollie Captain Grant’s letter duly arrived.

He was only too delighted to think that his suggestion had borne fruit with his old friend.

“It’s just settled that the Slains Castle will leave Peterhead on the twenty-eighth of this month,” he wrote. “That will give you plenty of time. But as we don’t touch anywhere in Great Britain, you will have to join me here. Don’t take the long railway journey. Like a wise man, come as far as Aberdeen in the steamer, and then you have not much further to travel. As for the hundred pounds, I tell you, my dear fellow, that we don’t intend to be away longer than one year, and that is the precise figure I should name. But I’ll go on to add that if we should happen to be a little longer, you shall not be charged a shilling more. Persuade Mrs. Challoner to come north with you and to bring the boy, and then she’ll see you fairly aboard, and will note what snug quarters you’ll have, and be able to see you with her mind’s eye all the time you are away. My wife hopes she will come.”

“You see there is no doubt that you are to go, Charlie,” said Mrs. Challoner. “Everything has worked to that end without one hitch. You are to go, because you are to come back strong and well. It is clearly the will of God that you go. I am so glad that my plans have been carried out beyond my own power. If it had all been my planning, I might have doubted afterwards.”

“But, Lucy,” said the young husband, his pleasant frank face shining with the mysterious light which often illumines the countenances which have just been bravely turned to confront the darkness of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, “I own, with you, that it does seem to be God’s will, but we must not think so now, unless we can continue to think so whatever be the result. Let us say together solemnly, ‘God’s will be done: not our will, but His.’”

And there was a little silence.

Lucy resolutely refused to consider the Grants’ invitation to Peterhead. She warmly seconded their suggestion that Charlie should travel in the snug, well-attended saloon of the magnificent coasting steamer rather than in the train. She refused to listen to his plea, that unless she would come with him this mode of travel would part them a day or two sooner than if he went by rail. She even nerved herself to say that when a matter of a year’s separation was in hand, what could a day more or less signify? It would be best that they should part in their own home, where life could go straight on, and she could set to work at once. It would be dreadful to come back to the house alone. (“Pollie would have a welcome for you,” interposed young Challoner.) Besides, who knew whether she and little Hugh might not prove to be the very worst of sailors, and then Charlie would go off quite unhappy, thinking of the misery of their return journey.

In all these arguments Lucy knew there was force and good sense, but she knew, too, that but for the secret knowledge that her whole household life was crumbling about her, they would not for one moment have sufficed to withhold her from clinging to her husband’s presence till the latest possible moment.

“Now, Pollie,” she said to her servant, “I am able to tell you why I wish silence about your departure. It is finally arranged that my husband is going for a long sea-voyage. He will be away for about a year. When we first began to think of this it was a great consideration that I and the boy should have you—our household friend of seven years’ standing—to be with us. That thought was a great comfort. Now as we find this cannot be, I think we may save Mr. Challoner the distress of knowing about it before he goes. It might make him wish to postpone his going. And he ought to be off before the winter.”

Pollie was sniffing.

“I wish I’d known. I was huffed a bit thinking I wasn’t to be much consideration in any changes you was making.”

“But what made you think of changes?” asked Mrs. Challoner. “This is no change. All will go on the same, though with your master away for a year, and then we shall hope that all will go on the same when he returns. It is only since this very morning, Pollie, that we have been quite sure this voyage can be arranged. You are the very first person I have told. We think those in a household, whose interests are naturally bound up together, should be the first to hear such news.”

“Didn’t you mention it to Mrs. Brand, m’m?” asked Pollie.

“Certainly not,” Lucy answered. “There was no use mentioning it to anybody when it might have come to nothing.”

Lucy rather wondered at this question. It did not occur to her that Mrs. Brand had had the girl to herself on the afternoon when Lucy had gone to see Dr. Ivery, nor that it could have been she who had put the idea of “changes” into the head of her sister’s servant. And Pollie kept the secret, as servants often do, or it would go hard with many a gadding and gossipping “lady.”

“You may trust me not to speak, m’m,” said poor Pollie, still sniffing. But she put such emphasis on “me” that it reminded her mistress that Mrs. Brand also knew of Pollie’s imminent departure and would be almost sure to blurt it out before Charlie. Lucy hated to ask her sister to keep a secret from him. It would be as useless, too, as painful, for Florence would be sure to “forget” or “not to think.” As such “forgetfulness” or “want of thought” always pleads “meaning no harm,” and resents indignation as harsh and uncharitable, there is nothing to be done but to prevent their harmful doings by keeping them out of the way.

And while Lucy was pondering what steps she could take in this direction, she got warning that Charlie might get an impression of trouble of some sort and question the facts out of poor Pollie however loyally she might try to keep them back. For Pollie seemed unable to keep from “sniffing,” and when she went into the drawing-room the sight of Mr. Challoner brought on a very bad attack.

“Why, what’s the matter, Pollie?” asked he, quite innocently. “No bad news from home, I hope?”

“Oh, no, sir! Yes—oh, it’s a-thinking of you a-going away, sir!” said Pollie desperately, and rushed from the room.

“I had no idea that Pollie cared a bit for me,” observed her master. “I thought she regarded me as a wage-paying machine, and that you and the boy were the idols. It is quite flattering to find that I came in for a bit of the adoration.”

“Of course Pollie cares for you after living in the house with us for seven years, and you always so considerate and polite,” said Lucy.

“Considerate and polite!” echoed Charlie. “Well, I do hope I’m not quite a brute in my own home, and I don’t know how many other fellows I’ve rebuked for calling their landladies’ servants ‘the slavey.’ And they’ve often said to me, ‘Well, but it’s true,’ and I say, ‘Then it oughtn’t to be true.’”

“Of course it should not be true,” Lucy responded.

“It is quite touching to think Pollie cares for my going away,” Charlie went on. “But I tell you, Lucy, it occurs to me that it is not my going that has grieved her, but the thought of your being left alone.” He paused for a moment. “She thinks you’ll be so dull,” he said, fearing lest his words might have brought to Lucy’s mind the idea they had wakened in his own—to wit, that probably Pollie regarded this temporary separation as likely to be for the earthly forever. “Well, I can only say again,” he went on, “that my greatest comfort is that she is with you. What a blessing we have not changed our servant perpetually as the Brands do! How could I go off and leave you with an utter stranger, who might desert you the next week?”

“We never know what changes may come,” said Lucy, to whom silence began to seem criminal. “But we must trust God to provide for emergencies. They never are so bad as they look beforehand.”

“That is quite true,” answered Charlie, “and that’s just how I feel—a special trial has come to us, and a special blessing is prepared for it in the shape of Pollie.”

Lucy could endure no more. She jumped up and went out of the room so hurriedly that Charlie thought she must have heard a ring at the door-bell. She really went to little Hugh’s bedroom, and sat down in the darkness beside the cot where he was already asleep. She began to revolve schemes. She would get Charlie to go with her and the boy to spend the interval before his departure at the seaside. That would take him away in safety from Florence’s chatter and Pollie’s tears. It had other substantial recommendations, too, such as she could urge. It was highly desirable that before his great journey Charlie should shake off the little ways and weaknesses of invalidism as a “change” helps a convalescent to do. Then she would add what she knew would be a supreme argument with him—that her teaching duties at the Institute would begin at the Christmas quarter, and that she ought not to take up these labours when below par in nerve and health after her anxious nursing. She would plead, too, the charm of the little family of three being together quite by themselves in a strange place, where they would be safe from any calls or condolences or curiosity, and could wander about or rest, just at their own sweet will. Of course, this trip would cost a little money, but not very much, and apart from all its other charms, Lucy felt that it would soothe her own heart in the pain of having been forced to refuse to accompany her husband to his port of departure.

“You are a funny little woman,” said her husband, when she went downstairs again and made these suggestions. “What else will you think out so cleverly? I shall like this of all things; and all the while I am away, it will be so much cheerier to have last thoughts of each other taking quiet holiday by the sea, than of each of us mewed up in a sick-room, coddling and being coddled.”

“And I’ll be able to do two or three sketches,” Lucy went on. “I should like to do them with you looking on, to know if you think my hand has lost any of its cunning. It will get me up to the mark, too. I daresay I may do something that will more than pay for our trip.”

“Never say that women are not practical!” laughed Mr. Challoner. “While I am only thinking of sentiment, the wifie has gone on to the shillings! But ah, Lucy dear, don’t think I don’t know that you want the shillings only for the sake of the sentiment!”

They sat together hand in hand. They had been married seven years, and they were on the eve of separation. Both hearts were full of feelings to which they dared not give utterance. One must not stir a brimming cup lest it overflow.

“I vote we go to Deal!” cried Charlie at last.

“Isn’t it rather an east windy place for an invalid?” asked Lucy.

“But I’m not an invalid, and am not going to pass as one,” he said gaily. “I’m a fellow starting on a sea-voyage! No, no, Lucy, don’t doom me to some sheltered cubby hole of a ‘resort,’ where half the population are in bath-chairs and the other half in respirators. It would give us the blues! If you’ll let us go to Deal, I’ll promise to be very good,” he went on with his indomitable boyishness. “I’ll only go out when you say I may, and I’ll come in the minute you say I must. Only let us go there!”

In the depths of his heart lay the secret thought that to go to any place where consumptives are wont to congregate, would inevitably fill Lucy’s mind with dire forebodings, besides exposing her to the depressing influences of the conventional “sympathy” or forced “hopefulness” which emanate from well-meaning landladies and others trained by experience to regard their habitat as one of the last stages on life’s journey.

All the next day Lucy hurriedly made her little preparations for the trip. She said to Charlie that, if Deal suited him, and if they got snug apartments, they might stay on till the very end, so that he need only use their own house to rest and sleep in on his way through London to the north.

“As for any sea-going things you want—lockers, waterproofs, and so on—we can get them at Deal,” she said.

Only when all was in readiness for their start, while the cab which was to take them to the station actually stood at the door, did she post a letter to Mrs. Brand, giving the first intimation of their present move and of Charlie’s future journey.

“We have had it in view for some time,” she wrote, for it was impossible for Lucy Challoner to be inferentially untruthful, “but it was only decided the day before yesterday.”

After the railway journey, whose slight fatigue the convalescent bore capitally, they went straight to an hotel and had lunch, and there Lucy left her husband and little Hugh, while she went in quest of “apartments.” She wanted cleanliness, economy, and a sea view. Like all people who know what they want she was not long in getting suited. She decided on the second set of rooms at which she looked, preferring them to the first, because being upstairs, they commanded a wider horizon. Also she felt attracted to the second landlady, a quiet, grave, middle-aged woman of few words, whose chambers, with their well-kept old-fashioned furniture had—what is the greatest charm of hired rooms—no suggestion of previous temporary occupancy.

The landlady had everything made snug before their arrival; the curtains were drawn, a cheerful fire was ablaze, and the lit lamp stood in the centre of the table spread with pretty blue crockery and provided with ham, eggs and toast. There are few who can wholly resist the genial influence of such surroundings. Charlie and Lucy Challoner yielded themselves up to them, and little Hugh danced and clapped his hands. Lucy felt as if she was happier than she had ever thought to be again. Safe from the impending worries of the last few days, it seemed as if the great anxiety which hung like a Damocles’ sword over her life was for the time held off.

“I believe this is really doing you good, Lucy,” said her husband. “For me, I feel a different man already.”

The bed-chamber opened from the parlour, and Hugh was not allowed to be long in seeking the little cot which the landlady had fixed up for him in his parents’ room. But while Lucy passed to and fro unpacking and preparing for the night, Mr. Challoner and Hugh got behind the window curtains and shut themselves away from the cheery room and out with the misty sea view. Lucy could hear them talking behind the drapery.

“There go the ships!” said the young father. “Look, Hugh, you can see them by their lights! Look what a lot of them there are! And how many lights they are showing!”

“How glad the sailors must be to see land again!” lisped Hugh. “They must feel they are safe at last!”

“Glad to feel they are nearly home at last, Hugh,” corrected his father. “For ships are in much more danger when they are near land than when they are out in mid-ocean. What looks safest isn’t always safe, my boy.”

“I’d like to go on a ship!” said Hugh.

“I daresay you will go in time, sonny,” returned Mr. Challoner. “By-and-by, Hughie, I am going on a big ship—a big ship with three masts—and I am going for a long, long voyage. And you’ll have to take care of mamma while I am away. And then when I come back, and you grow up, very likely you will go for some long voyage, and then I will stay at home and take care of mamma.”

“Are you going to-morrow, papa?” said the little voice in an awed whisper, and Lucy heard a movement as if the curly head snuggled on papa’s shoulder. How good it was of Charlie to tell the child himself! The thought of having to do so had haunted her, for she measured her little lad’s love for his father by what she knew it meant in his life rather than by that childish inadequacy for profound emotion which makes a child such a poignantly pathetic figure when it appears on any tragic scene.

“To-morrow!” echoed papa in his brightest tone. “No, indeed, not for many days—two or three weeks! We are going to have such a happy time. We’ll go out and pick up shells, and if there is a very warm sunshiny day with only little waves on the sea, maybe we’ll go out in a boat—that’s if mamma will come with us,” he added, remembering his promised obedience to her discretion.

Hugh broke away from his father and ran back into the room.

“Oh, mamma,” he cried, “you will let us go out in a boat, won’t you? If the day’s sunshiny—an’ it’s sure to be—and if the waves are ever such little teeny weenies! Oh, mamma, yes!”

“We shall see, Hugh. We will do what seems wise. It is time you went to bed.”

In commanding her voice to be steady, it sounded sharp and hard. It checked Hugh’s ecstasy, and brought his father out from behind the curtain. She felt that Charlie’s expression was surprised, and that she would break down utterly if she had to meet his eyes. Without looking back, she caught the hand of the silenced and awed Hugh, and hurried him away to the other room.

Neither of them spoke while she helped the child undress. Even her eyes did not answer his, though she saw his blue orbs raised wistfully. He knelt down and said his little prayer, the “Our Father,” and the little verse of godly nursery tradition—

“Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

Then he passed on to the extempore petitions, in which he was always allowed free expression. To-night they came with unwonted faltering and hesitation. The child-soul was aware of a disturbed atmosphere around it—of groping somehow in darkness uncertain of itself.

“Please, God, bless dear papa—and dear mamma—and dear Pollie—and dear Aunt Florence—and—and dear Mr. Brand—and dear Mrs. May—and make me a good boy. Amen.”

“Dear Mrs. May?” Who was that? Lucy had to pause for a moment ere she remembered that this was the name of the landlady, whom the child had seen for the first time two hours before, and who had won his heart by bringing in for him a special tea plate painted with a picture of Walmer Castle!

It was only as Hugh stood in his little night-gown, half stepping into the cot, that he said, almost with a whimper—

“I never kissed good night to papa.”

“Then run away and kiss him now,” said Lucy in her natural tone.

Hugh was himself again in a second, scampering away, kicking aside his flowing white robes with his little pink feet, and bestowing upon his father what was evidently an ecstasy of hugs, accompanied by a perfect storm of hearty “smacks.” Then he gallopaded back, hopped into bed, held out his arms to his mother, and clasped her down to himself in a rapturous embrace, to which she responded with an added tenderness born of a little remorse for the foolish pang he had given her.

“But you will let us go in the boat?” he whispered before he released her.

She kissed him again as her only answer, and went back into the sitting-room. Her husband looked up at her with some solicitude, and drew up a chair for her at his side.

“I’m afraid you have been very much overwrought, Lucy,” he said. “It’s no use saying ‘No.’ I can hear it in your voice. When you went out of the room, I thought you were actually crying. I was quite uneasy till I saw you come in again all right.”