and simply, 'that we shall be happy now.'

Then, after another silence, 'Come, if we go on in this way, we shall
not be fit for to-morrow, and you have only half a night. Dearest, I
wish I could save you the sitting up! If he is better to-morrow, Johnnie
shall take you for a walk.'

He was better, though the doctors, dismayed at yesterday's imprudence,
preached strenuously on his highly precarious state, and enforced
silence and absence of excitement. Indeed, his condition was still such
that the improvement could only be seen in occasional gleams; and as
the relief from mental anxiety left him more attention to bestow on the
suffering from the disorder, he was extremely depressed and desponding,
never believing himself at all better.

The experiment of a visit from the little girls was renewed, but without
better success; for the last week had increased the horrors of his
appearance; and Theodora reported that Johnnie had confided to her, as
a shocking secret, that the reason why Helen could not bear to go near
papa was, that he looked exactly like Red Ridinghood's wolf.

Violet was grateful for the saying, for it was the first thing that drew
a smile from Arthur, and to court the child became a sort of interest
and occupation that distracted his thoughts from himself. It was
touching to see him watching her, as she ran in and out, trying to catch
her eye, stretching out his hand invitingly, holding up fruit to allure
her, and looking with fond, proud, yet mournful eyes, on her fresh
healthful beauty. She used to try not to see him, and would race past at
full speed, and speak to her mamma with her back to him; but gradually
some mysterious attraction in that silent figure won sidelong glances
from her, and she began to pause, each time with a longer and fuller
tip-toe gaze, both hands pressed down on the top of her head, and a look
like a wild fawn, till all at once, the wehr-wolf feeling would seize
her, and she would turn and dash off as if for her life, while his
eager, pleased face relaxed into disappointment, and her mother still
said that time would bring her round.

At last, she took them completely by surprise, suddenly launching
herself on the bed, and plunging her face into the midst of the black
bristles; then, leaping down, and rushing to the door as if expecting
to be caught. So violent a proceeding was almost more than Arthur
could bear, and Violet, rising to smooth the coverings, began to preach
ge