from
all undue excitement. I should recommend for the next few days, complete
confinement to her bed with a simple diet; _no_ tea nor coffee, nor
any stimulants. Keep her quiet, Mrs. Bell, for while the illness
lasts--I give it no name--under which she is laboring, she will have no
desire, except to keep herself solitary."

"And you think that will effect a cure, doctor?" asked Mrs. Bell, whose
eyes had forced up a little moisture. "The child is frail, oughtn't she
to be nourished?"

"In the way I prescribed, my dear madam. Milk diet, without stimulants.
I'll see you again in a couple of days, Miss Matty."

"And you say she's not to get up, doctor?"

"On no account, until I call again."

The doctor departed, and Matty submitted to the remarkably dull life
laid out for her.

In the course of the afternoon Mrs. Bell went out. To each friend she
met she made the same remarks:

"Matty is very ill. I'm dreadfully anxious about her. Dr. Morris is in
close attendance. She's to be kept strictly to her bed, and the greatest
care has to be exercised to maintain her feeble strength. It's a heavy
trial to have one's child so ill--and from such a cause."

"Dear, dear," the sympathizing neighbor would answer. "What can be the
matter, and Matty always looked so fresh and hearty? Do you think she
has gone and taken anything, Mrs. Bell? Some people prophesy that we are
to have an epidemic of small-pox. It can't be that, surely? Taken so
sudden too, for she was about yesterday."

"Small-pox!" retorted Mrs. Bell, with withering scorn. "As if a child of
mine who had her vaccination beautifully would have small-pox! No, no,
it's heart-blight, neighbor, it's heart-blight, and I doubt if my girl
will ever get over it."

"Eh, ah--you don't say so," the neighbor would instantly retort. Now the
listener was full of intense curiosity, and longing to learn everything.
Matty Bell ill with a heart affair! No wonder her mother looked
troubled. Ah, men were deceivers ever! And who had dared to trifle with
her young affections?

Then Mrs. Bell would sigh deeply, and lower her voice, and point in the
direction of the Manor. It wasn't for her to name names, but a certain
young man had gone far, very far. Why, they could bring an action
against him, only they'd scorn to make public their poor child's
feelings. Well, well, he might lead another bride, a certain designer,
to the altar, but there would be no luck nor happiness for either of
t