n, I assure you," cried the girl,
dropping a curtsey.

Dr Middleton, who sat between the bed and Mr Easy's chair, rubbed his
hands and laughed.

In the meantime, Mr Easy had untied the string and taken off the cap of
the young woman, and was very busy putting his fingers through her hair,
during which the face of the young woman expressed fear and
astonishment.

"I am glad to perceive that you have a large portion of benevolence."

"Yes," replied the young woman, dropping a curtsey.

"And veneration also."

"Thanky, sir."

"And the organ of modesty is strongly developed."

"Yes, sir," replied the girl, with a smile.

"That's quite a new organ," thought Dr Middleton.

"Philo-progenitiveness very powerful."

"If you please, sir, I don't know what that is," answered Sarah, with a
curtsey.

"Nevertheless you have given us a practical illustration. Mrs Easy, I
am satisfied. Have you any questions to ask? But it is quite
unnecessary."

"To be sure, I have, Mr Easy. Pray, young woman, what is your name?"

"Sarah, if you please, ma'am."

"How long have you been married?"

"Married, ma'am?"

"Yes, married."

"If you please, ma'am, I had a misfortune, ma'am," replied the girl,
casting down her eyes.

"What, have you not been married?"

"No, ma'am, not yet."

"Good heavens! Dr Middleton, what can you mean by bringing this person
here?" exclaimed Mrs Easy. "Not a married woman, and she has a child!"

"If you please, ma'am," interrupted the young woman, dropping a curtsey,
"it was a very little one."

"A very little one!" explained Mrs Easy.

"Yes, ma'am, very small indeed, and died soon after it was born."

"Oh, Dr Middleton!--what could you mean, Dr Middleton?"

"My dear madam," exclaimed the doctor, rising from his chair, "this is
the only person that I could find suited to the wants of your child, and
if you do not take her, I cannot answer for its life. It is true that a
married woman might be procured; but married women who have a proper
feeling will not desert their own children; and, as Mr Easy asserts,
and you appear to imagine, the temper and disposition of your child may
be affected by the nourishment it receives, I think it more likely to be
injured by the milk of a married woman who will desert her own child for
the sake of gain. The misfortune which has happened to this young woman
is not always a proof of a bad heart, but of strong attachment, and the
overweening confidence