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 lives near the old place, that his regard for her seemed to increase with years. Indeed, it was so excessive as to threaten harm to the child. He humored and petted her so much, that she was likely to grow up willful and spoiled. I know that she had become a trial in the house; a disobedient, ill-natured girl, at the time of her disappearance. The baby, which I never saw, had to be kept away from home, owing to her rough usage. She was, also, unkind to mother, in her illness, and even the Irish girl complained loudly of Miss Nattie's general laziness and insubordination."

Augustus Reid seemed surprised to hear such words as these, and said that "he thought Nathalie very different from this description."

"So, indeed, this sick girl is," said the wife. "I never saw a child so gentle and patient, yet so brave in the midst of pain; and this I have often said to Robert."

"You speak truly," was the response. "If