pinning cap-ribbons out of the way of cold applications,
and covering up lace from the damaging influence of restoratives.

"It 's wonderful,--it's wonderful!" exclaimed Peter, whose faculties
were actually confounded by such a rush of sensations and emotions.

"Make him go back to his dinner, Martha; make him go back," sighed the
sick lady, in a half-dreamy voice.

"I couldn't eat a bit; a morsel would choke me this minute," said
Dalton, who could n't bear to be outdone in the refinements of excited
sensibility.

"She must never be contradicted while in this state," said Martha,
confidingly. "All depends on indulgence."

"It's wonderful!" exclaimed Dalton, again,----"downright wonderful!"

"Then, pray go back; she'll be quite well presently," rejoined Martha,
who already, from the contents of a reticule like a carpet-bag, had
metamorphosed the fair Zoe's appearance into all the semblance of a
patient.

"It's wonderful; it beats Banagher!" muttered Peter, as he returned to
the Saal, and resumed his place at the table. The company had already
taken their departure, and except Purvis and the General, only a few
stragglers remained behind.

"Does she often get them?" asked Peter of Purvis.

"Only when her fee-fee-feelings are worked upon; she's so se-sensitive!"

"Too tender a heart," sighed Peter, as he filled his glass, and sighed
over an infirmity that he thought he well knew all the miseries of. "And
her name, if I might make bould?"

"Ricketts,----Mrs. Montague Ricketts. This is Ge-Ge-General Ricketts."
At these words the old man looked op, smiled blandly, and lifted his
glass to his lips.

[Illustration: 228]

"Your good health, and many happy returns to yoo," said Peter, in reply
to the courtesy. "Ricketts,----Ricketts. Well, I 'm sure I heard the
name before."

"In the D-D-Duke's despatches you may have seen it." "No, no, no. I
never read one of them. I heard it here in Baden. Wait, now, and I'll
remember how." Neither the effort at recollection nor the aid of a
bumper seemed satisfactory, for Dalton sat musingly for several minutes
together. "Well, I thought I knew the name," exclaimed he, at last, with
a deep sigh of discomfiture; "'t is runnin' in my head yet; something
about chilblains,----chilblains."

"But the name is R-R-Ricketts," screamed Purvis.

"And so it is," sighed Peter. "My brain is woolgathering. By my
conscience, I have it now, though!" cried he, in wild delight. "I knew I
'd