of want of confidence--debate last night. What is
she about? She fancies she knows everything, and, the fact is, she knows
no more about infants--I could see that, when the poor little thing was
a day old!"

"Do you think there is cause for fear?" said Margaret anxiously.

"I can't tell. With a first child, one can't guess what may be mamma's
fancy, or what may be serious. But Flora is not too fanciful, and I must
see her for my own satisfaction. Let some one write, and say I will
come up to-morrow by the twelve o'clock train--and mind she opens the
letter."

Dr. May kept his word, and the letter had evidently not been neglected;
for George was watching for him at the station, and thanked him so
eagerly for coming, that Dr. May feared that he was indeed needed, and
inquired anxiously.

"Flora is uneasy about her--she seems heavy, and cries when she is
disturbed," replied George. "Flora has not left her to-day, and hardly
yesterday."

"Have you had no advice for her?"

"Flora preferred waiting till you should come."

Dr. May made an impatient movement, and thought the way long, till they
were set down in Park Lane. Meta came to meet them on the stairs, and
said that the baby was just the same, and Flora was in the nursery, and
thither they hastily ascended.

"Oh, papa! I am so glad you are come!" said Flora, starting up from her
low seat, beside the cradle.

Dr. May hardly paused to embrace his daughter, and she anxiously led him
to the cradle, and tried to read his expression, as his eyes fell on the
little face, somewhat puffed, but of a waxy whiteness, and the breathing
seeming to come from the lips.

"How long has she been so?" he asked, in a rapid, professional manner.

"For about two or three hours. She was very fretful before, but I did
not like to call in any one, as you were coming. Is it from her teeth?"
said Flora, more and more alarmed by his manner. "Her complexion is
always like that--she cannot bear to be disturbed," added she, as the
child feebly moaned, on Dr. May beginning to take her from her cradle;
but, without attending to the objection, he lifted her up, so that she
lay as quietly as before, on his arm. Flora had trusted that hope and
confidence would come with him; but, on the contrary, every lurking
misgiving began to rush wildly over her, as she watched his countenance,
while he carried his little granddaughter towards the light, studied
her intently, raised her drooping eyelids, a