y natural he should distrust
my capacity--he had never seen me compelled to exert myself."

"I understand--I understand," said the doctor. "He thought you would be
glad enough to come back to them; yes, yes, just like him!"

"Well, now," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I don't believe he thought any such
thing. He was provoked, and didn't mind what he said. Ten to one he will
never think of it again, and it seems to me it is only a kind of pride
in Gertrude to care anything about it."

"I don't know that, wife," said the doctor. "If it _is_ pride, it's an
honourable pride that I like; and I am not sure but, if I were in
Gertrude's place, I should feel just as she does; so I shan't urge her
to do any other ways than she proposes. She can have a boarding-place,
and yet spend much of her time with us."

"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Jeremy; "and, if you feel set about it, Gerty,
dear, I am sure I shall want you to do whatever pleases you best; but
one thing I do insist on, and that is, that you leave this house, which
must look very dreary, this very day, go home with me, and stay until
you get recruited."

Gertrude, gladly consenting to a short visit, compromised the matter by
accompanying them without delay, and it was chiefly owing to the
doctor's persevering skill and care bestowed upon his young guest, and
the motherly nursing of Mrs. Jeremy, that she escaped the illness which
had threatened her.

Mr. and Mrs. W., who felt great sympathy for Gertrude, pressed her to
come to their house, and remain until the return of Mr. Graham and
Emily; but, on being assured by her that she was unaware of the period
of their absence, and should not probably reside with them for the
future, they were satisfied that she acted with wisdom and judgment in
at once providing herself with an independent situation.

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, who had been constant in their attentions, both to
Mrs. Sullivan and Gertrude, and were the only persons, except the
physician, who had been admitted to the sick room of the invalid, felt
that they had a peculiar claim to the care of the doubly-orphaned girl,
and urged her to become a member of their household. Mr. Arnold's family
being large, and his house and salary small, true benevolence alone
prompted this proposal; and on Gertrude's acquainting his economical and
prudent wife with the ample means she enjoyed from her own exertions,
and the decision she had formed of procuring an independent home, she
received th