red to me that there is no female under this roof who understands
the management of a sick bed, we ought, under these circumstances, to
provide a nurse for him."

"Well, indeed, that is true enough, Harry, and it is very kind and
considerate of you to think of it; but who will we get? The women here
are very ignorant and stupid."

"I have been making inquiries," he replied, "and I am told there is a
woman in Rathfillan, named Collins, niece to a religious herbalist or
herb doctor, who possesses much experience in that way. It is just such
a woman we want."

"Well, then, let her come; do you go and engage her; but see that she
will not extort dishonest terms from you, because there is nothing but
fraud and knavery among these wretches."

Harry lost little time in seeming the services of Caterine Collins, who
was that very day established as nurse-tender in Charles Lindsay's sick
room.

Alice's illness was now such as left little expectation of her recovery.
She was stated, and with good reason, to be in a condition absolutely
hopeless; and nothing could exceed the regret and sorrow which were felt
for the benevolent and gentle girl. We say benevolent, because, since
her accession to her newly-acquired property, her charities to the poor
and distressed were bountiful and generous, almost beyond belief; and
even during her illness she constituted her father as the agent--and
a willing one he was--of her beneficence. In fact, the sorrow for her
approaching death was deep and general, and the sympathy felt for her
parents such as rarely occurs in life.

Of course it is unnecessary to say that these tidings of her hopeless
illness did not reach the Lindsays. On the second morning after Harry's
visit he asked for a private interview with his mother, which was
accorded to him.

"Mother," said he, "you must pay the Goodwins another visit--a visit,
mark you, of sympathy and condolence. You forget all the unpleasant
circumstances that have occurred between the families. You forget
everything but your anxiety for the recovery of poor, dear Alice."

"But," replied his mother, "I do not wish to go. Why should I go to
express a sympathy which I do not feel? Her death is only a judicial
punishment on them for having inveigled your silly old uncle to leave
them the property which would have otherwise come to you as the natural
heir."

"Mother," said her dutiful son, "you have a nose, and beyond that nose
you never yet have b