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 the sick room; protesting that she could not risk, before the surgeon and the nurse, the rude expressions which her poor niece might utter; and could still less hazard imparting such irritating information tête à tête.

Why, then," said Ireton, "should not Miss Ellis undertake the job? Nobody has had a deeper share in the business."

This idea was no sooner started, than it was seized by Mrs. Maple; who was over-joyed to elude the unpleasant task imposed upon her by Harleigh; and almost equally gratified to mortify, or distress, a person whom she had been led, by numberless small circumstances, which upon little minds operate more forcibly than essential ones, to consider as a source of personal disgrace to her own dignity and judgment. Deaf, therefore, to the remonstrances of Ellis, upon whom she forced the letter, she sent for Mr. Naird, charged him to watch carefully by the side of her poor niece,