ter exchanging a few words with Jenny, the Doctor lifted
the sheet from off Moggy's feet.

"William, come here and witness the effects of your cruelty," he said in
a stern voice, very unlike that in which he was accustomed to address
his children. "Now look at those poor burnt hands. You, and those with
you, I have no doubt, caused all the pain this poor woman is now
suffering; and should she die, at whose door, think you, will the guilt
lie?"

William could not answer. The Doctor, taking out some salves he had
brought with him, began to dress the poor creature's limbs. Anna could
not refrain from tears, while she went forward to assist her father and
kind Jenny. William stood by without uttering a word, and feeling as he
had never felt before.

When the sufferer's hands and feet were once more covered up, the Doctor
directed Charles to call in the younger children.

"Listen to what Jenny Davis will tell you," he said, when they were all
assembled round the bed.

"Ah, sir, I have a tale to tell which would soften a heart of stone; but
I hope none of these young people have hearts of that sort," remarked
Jenny, fixing her eyes on William. "She has told me how it all
happened, and it may be a warning to that young gentleman never to throw
stones at any human being, even though they may be deserted; or, for
that matter, at any living creature. They cannot tell where the stone
may strike, and what harm it may do. Well, sir, Old Moggy was sitting
at her poor fire when those cruel boys came up here again to play off
their cowardly tricks. They talk of her imps doing mischief, though
they were the imps, and they were doing the mischief, I'm thinking.
Stone after stone was thrown in on her. At last one struck the hearth
and sent a burning stick under her feet. While she stooped down to
remove it, another large one gave her a blow on the head which must have
stunned her, for she fell to the ground and her clothes began to burn.
The agony she was suffering brought her in some degree to her senses
again, when she found herself surrounded by flames, and believed that
she was going to be burnt to death. There was nobody near that she knew
of to help her, and she couldn't help herself; she knew that, so she
prayed for the help of God. Just then the door burst open, and the
young gentleman I told you of ran in, and throwing his coat over her,
put out the fire. I came in soon after, and helped to put her on the
bed.