wiped away some tears with the corner of her faded apron, then
answered a question of Jack's. What could he say to the poor thing?
Surely she had done her duty with truest endeavor; and Tom Byrne was a
very fair average man, liking his daily glass of beer, but rarely going
farther.

"Can you fix a bed in the other room, and put Kitty in it?" the doctor
asked. "She is better, but I would rather have her out of here."

"And Jamie is better too?" she questioned, with tremulous eagerness.
"His fever is nearly gone, and he's having such a nice sleep"--

"Sleep is the best thing for him," returned the doctor briefly. "About
Kitty"--

The mother's wan face flushed. She came close to Dr. Maverick, her eyes
downcast.

"The coal gave out this morning, and I've no fire there," she said just
above a whisper. "The relief-store is closed"--

"Yes, yes; I'll see to it;" with a nod. "I will be in again"--looking at
the sleeping child--"say about four." Then he changed the medicine for
Kitty, and gave one or two orders.

Jack thrust a bank-note in Jenny's hand, with his good-by. "Tom will be
so glad to see you, Mr. Darcy," she said, with an effort at calmness.

"Can nothing be done for them?" asked Jack, as they regained the street.

"No. Jamie had gone too far when I was called in. Larger rooms, fresher
air, nourishing food: that's the secret of a physician's success in many
cases. Poor little ones! He will not go through the night. Now, Jack,
you are not to come in here, positively. Stand in this breeze, and blow
the scarlet-fever out of your clothes."

He did as he was bid, and, getting tired, tramped up and down. How much
of man's selfishness and dishonesty there was in this! If the time could
ever come when the mists and fogs of complacency would be swept off,
and we could see that it was the innocent suffering for the guilty, not
that these poor souls were sinners above all men, as the self-righteous
Pharisee preaches!

Maverick rejoined him with a grave face, then the two went down Main
Street. Houses to let, stores and shops closed, and those open but
half-stocked, and wearing a listless air. If three hard years so told on
the place, and there was no prospect of better things, what would it be
in five or ten? Was it some such misfortune that had overtaken those
grand and luxurious cities of Oriental lands?

"Where are the Lawrences?" Jack asked presently.

"Well, I really do not know. I think I did hear that Mrs.