y."

"Ah! that is always the way, Mr Grey tells me. After a scarcity comes
the fever, he says. The poor are much to be pitied indeed. But what
should those do who are not poor, have you heard Mr Hope say?"

"He thinks they should help their poor neighbours to the very utmost."

"Oh, yes; of course: but what I mean is, what precautions would be
advise?"

"We will ask him. I have not heard him speak particularly of this on
the present occasion."

"Then he has not established any regulations in his own family?"

"No. But I know his opinion on such cases in general to be, that the
safest way is to go on as usual, taking rational care of health, and
avoiding all unnecessary terror. This common way of living, and a
particularly diligent care of those who want the good offices of the
rich, are what he would recommend, I believe, at this time: but when he
comes in, we will ask him. You had better stay till he returns. He may
bring some news. Meantime, I am sorry my baby is asleep. I should like
to show you his first tooth."

"His first tooth? Indeed! He is a forward little fellow. But, Hester,
do you happen to have heard your husband say what sort of fumigation he
would recommend in case of such a fever as this showing itself in the
house?"

"Indeed I have not heard him speak of fumigations at all. Have you,
Margaret?"

"I should just like to know; for Mrs Jones told me of a very good one;
and Mrs Howell thinks ill of it. Mrs Jones recommended me to pour
some sulphuric acid upon salt--common salt--in a saucer; but Mrs Howell
says there is nothing half so good as hot vinegar."

"Somebody has come and put up a stall," said Sophia, "where he sells
fumigating powders, and some pills, which he says are an infallible
remedy against the fever."

"Preventive, my dear."

"Well, mamma, 'tis just the same thing. Does Mr Hope know anything of
the people who have set up that stall?"

Hester thought she might venture to answer that question without waiting
for her husband's return. She laughed as she said, that medical men
avoided acquaintance with quacks.

"Does Mr Hope think that medical men are in any particular danger?"
asked Sophia, bashfully, but with great anxiety. "I think they must be,
going among so many people who are ill. If there is a whole family in
the fever in a cottage at Crossly End, as Mrs Howell says there is, how
very dangerous it must be to attend them!"

Sophia was checked by a wi