, only make up your mind at once.'

Great was Lucy's surprise, when upon being again summoned by her father,
she received from him the commission just determined upon. At one moment
to have her pulse felt, and the next to be told that she must prepare for
entertaining a large party! What did it mean? The good father, startled at
her agitation, assured her that he himself felt the want of a little more
society, and that he thought it would do _him_ good to have a company of
gay young people about him for an evening. Lucy was afraid she could not
recollect all her acquaintances. 'Well, no matter; only invite all she
_could_ remember; he should be satisfied with her arrangement of the
affair.'

Whatever may have been the efforts of Lucy's memory, it is certain that
only a moderate number of tickets were sent out for the appointed evening;
indeed it might have been feared that the doctor's experiment could
scarcely have a fair scope in so limited a circle; but finding that his
patient had had her own way in the whole, _he_ seemed to feel quite
assured of success. Before etiquette would have permitted the arrival of
any other guest, he had taken his place close beside the fair mistress of
the revels, and even after the room began to fill, seemed determined to
yield his envied position to no one. Those who said Dr. Kent was no
student, should have seen him then; his eye riveted on her fair young
countenance, there could be no doubt he was conning _that_ closely. At
every fresh arrival, how he watched the eager glance of inquiry! how his
gaze followed the course of the eloquent blood as it left the transparent
cheek, again to burden the disappointed heart!

The doctor was still puzzled; the gay company had by no means yet wrought
the change he looked for; how was this?--but he held to his watch. And now
once more the door was thrown open, and a young gentleman, with a
decidedly hesitating air and step, approached the youthful hostess. Ah!
now the light no longer flickered in her clear blue eye; it literally
danced: the awakened color left her cheek it is true, as before, but how
soon it came again! 'You positively have stood long enough, and must sit
down now,' said Dr. Kent, taking Lucy's hand; not the tip-ends of her
fingers; no, the doctor was not one either to be satisfied with any such
superficial plan of action, or to forego his privileges; on the contrary,
availing himself of his position of friend of the family, he po