would have seen him at York first), it would have been civil, and that's all; but for you

6

Well, really, papa,' interrupted Ella, laughing, 'I don't see why the action was more meritorious in my case than it would have been in hers.'

That is just what I complain of; you do not understand your own superiority. Now, Mr. Aird, I am happy to say, did. He knows that nature intended you not to run on errands, but to have services rendered you by other people. He is a man whose judgment I applaud, and whose virtues I revere. You may depend upon it, Ella, that man was an excellent husband.'

'I feel sure of that, papa.'

• He didn't fall in love with his wife, you see, at first sight-though he indulged in that folly with somebody else, which came, as it almost always does come, to nothing—but he grew to love her day by day, and year by year. That is the true secret of married happiness.'

'I suppose it is,' said Ella, thoughtfully. She was wondering what was the secret of

her father's marriage, and whether that had resulted in happiness or not.

His present vein of philosophy was altogether new to her, nor did she understand its purport.

'Then, another thing which strikes me as an important feature in Mr. Aird's case,' he continued, and which should be a lesson to all young people, is that Duty itself proved the gateway to Love, though it did not seem at first to lead thither. The whole story is, in fact, not only, as I have said, most interesting, but also most noteworthy.; and now, dear, that you have had your lunch, and listened so patiently to my sermon, you can run upstairs and take off your bonnet.'

Mr. Josceline had an idea that young women were more given to reflection in their own rooms than elsewhere; and he had his reasons for giving his daughter an opportunity for thinking over what he had said to her, and perhaps of giving it a personal application.

CHAPTER XXI.

ILLNESS IN THE HOTEL.

On the way to her room, Ella met Davey's ayah-a black nurse called Abra, who, with the servants at the Ultramarine, was the cause of as great excitement (not unmingled in their case with alarm) as were Mr. and Miss Josceline to their masters and mistresses; she looked as white as a black woman could, and in a state of extreme agitation. Oh, mees,' she cried, 'Masser Davey is taken ill; I am going for his papa.'

'But you have surely not left the child alone?'

'No, no ; a kind lady is with him,' and she pointed to the nursery door, and fled downstairs as fast as the peculiarity of her attirewhich resembled a night-dress over a dressinggown-would permit.

By Davey's bedside was Mrs. Wallace, whom the nurse had called in to her assistance. It was not unusual for the child to be put to bed in the day-time, but on this occasion it was clear that he was not fit to be anywhere else; his little face was pinched with pain, and his little hands like coals of fire.

'I am better now,' he answered to Ella's affectionate inquiry; 'but I was cold and my teeth did chatter so that Abra was frightened. Now I'm quite warm.'

Mrs. Wallace and Ella interchanged meaning looks. 'Davey is a little over-tired,' said the former, assuringly; 'papa will come up and kiss him, and then he will go off to sleep, and wake up quite well.'

'My head, my head!' moaned the little patient, whom this agreeable programme seemed utterly to fail to cheer.

Is it fever?' inquired Ella in a whisper.

Yes; no doubt. I think, dear Miss Josceline, if you sent for Dr. Cooper at once it would be our best plan.'

'Let Ella stay here; I like Ella,' murmured

the child.

I like you too, Mrs. Wallace,' he added, and it was plain the effort to be thus considerate cost him something; but Ella is so pretty.'

'He is quite right,' said Mrs. Wallace, smiling. It would be a waste to send Ella on a message when an ugly old woman like me could do it just as well; would it not, Davey?

''Es it would,' said Davey. And the kind old face (which had beauty in it too-for wiser eyes) gave place to the young one beside his pillow.

She returned presently with the ayah, and the news that Mr. Aird had gone out immediately after luncheon, and was not to be found. It was unusual for him to do so; but, as Ella guessed, his feelings having been deeply moved by the recital of the morning, he had probably preferred to pass an hour or two somewhere in solitude.

The child dropped into an uneasy slumber, in which he continued till the Doctor came. Mrs. Wallace explained to him in a few words what had happened, and then he proceeded to make his professional examinations.