arcastically, "for your solicitude on Anna's account, but I believe I
am still quite equal to the charge of looking after her."

"Oh, if you take it in that way," retorted Malcolm in an offended
voice; and then Mrs. Herrick resumed her smooth manner. She was a
good-tempered woman, and seldom indulged in sarcasm; but things had
gone wrong that morning, and her young secretary had made several
mistakes. Anna had at last been obliged in her own self-defence to own
that she had a severe headache.

Mrs. Herrick had just sent her to her own room to lie down, and had
rung for Dawson to attend her. She was sadly inconvenienced by this
untoward accident, and it was at this inauspicious moment that Malcolm
lodged his complaint.

"If these headaches continue I shall ask Dr. Armstrong to look in," she
continued tranquilly. "Anna's services are most valuable to me. I
almost feel lost without her. It was a good day for me when she threw
herself into the work; it makes me regret my dear child less, to feel
that Anna sympathises with me so entirely;" and, in spite of himself,
Malcolm felt a little touched by these words.

A few weeks later he spoke to Anna; the girl had not recovered her
looks, and Nurse Dawson told him privately that she was losing her
appetite and getting thin; but Anna's eyes filled with tears at the
first words.

"Oh hush, dear Malcolm, please," she said, encircling his wrist with
her soft hand; it was a favourite caress with her, and Malcolm used
playfully to term it "Anna's handcuff," or the "Sheldon shackles." In
spite of their close intimacy as brother and sister, he had never
kissed her, but there was entire confidence between them.

"Please, please, Malcolm, do not say any more; it was very wrong of
nurse to put these ideas in your head. You know mother spoke to Dr.
Armstrong, and he is giving me a tonic; he says I must go out more, so
mother is trying to spare me all she can."

"And the headaches are better?" Malcolm looked at her quite sternly as
he put the question.

"Yes, I think so--I hope so," rather hesitatingly, for Anna was
absolutely truthful. "I still feel rather stupid of an evening; but
mother is so good, she lets me go to bed early."

She sighed rather heavily. "I wish I were stronger, Malcolm. Nurse says
I have never been robust. I do so love to help mother. I always feel as
though I can never do enough to show my gratitude to her. What would
have become of me when my parents died if