after a strong effort at mastering his emotion, burst into tears and left the room.

There is nothing so contagious as alarm, and, in spite of every effort of a strong mind, the most dreadful probabilities now presented themselves-forced themselves on poor Ellen. In fancy, even while struggling against its influence, she saw his coffin -- his shroud - his corse, even his lifeless hand!

It was in vain that she knelt and closed her eyes by firmly pressing her fingers upon them-she could not drive away the image of Julian, cold and stiff in death. Then stole upon her tortured fancy the most terrible of moments Fate has in store for us all-that when the coffin-lid is screwed down for ever, and we may see the heart's darling no more, and know that in this mortal world none can ever behold him again-she fancied she heard that heart-breaking sound-" Julian Lindsay, aged 23," glared on her tortured mind.

"Oh, God! oh, God!" she cried, sinking on the floor, "spare him!-spare him!"

Steps were heard the door opened-she

had just time to rise. It was Mr. Jobb, smiling and rubbing his hands: he came to breakfast.

"How is your patient?" faltered Ellen, dashing away her tears.

"Patient!-which patient? I've so many, miss, and all so far from patient-excuse a joke."

Ellen grew calmer. If Julian were worse, even Mr. Jobb, she thought, could not joke and smile.

My cousin, Mr. Julian Lindsay."

"Oh! he'll do at least, I hope he will. A leetle more sugar, if you please, miss. Very fine ham this, miss; and I'm sure it's only those who have country-places of their own who can have such chickens."

Mr. Jobb thought it the quintessence of good breeding to praise every thing at a table where he was a guest.

"Has my cousin any fever?" said Ellen, vainly trying to check the large tears that Mr. Jobb did not perceive

would flow.

them.

VOL, II,

F

66

Fever, miss," he said, slowly, while help ing himself to another wing "fever! why,

no-at least, merely symptomatic-secondary. Excuse me, miss, half a cup more; I've been up so long, I've quite a thirst upon me; and your tea is so excellent, I drink like a fish. The old gentleman, I suppose, imports it himself; he's a good deal to do with foreign parts, I think, hasn't he, miss? Very much he's respected, to be sureevery one knows the name. I only wish, miss, your uncle could see my second boy-a very sharp lad, and with the greatest wish to see foreign parts; I only wish I could make interest to get him abroad."

"I will do all I can with my uncle for him, if—if—I mean, my uncle will, I am sure, exert his interest for him, if you are the means of my cousin's prompt recovery."

66

Well, miss, that's very fair; of course, if I give all my time to this young gentleman, I must neglect my other patients, and money cannot pay me for the loss of connexion. must own, the young squire is in a ticklish

state; but, if I could take up my quarters here, I think I could answer for him. But, then, I must turn all my others over to my young assistant, and many of them don't half like him; for, like all young surgeons, he's too fond of the knife-too fond by half; then, he has made a few mistakes, which got me into some trouble. Let me see-he'd do for the gratis days, but he'll be very ill received in the rounds; besides that, I do not half like trusting my horse and gig to him. My plan, miss, was to send him here to stay, and to call every morning myself."

"Him! what, to attend Julian-to attend my cousin?" and Ellen thought of the knife and the mistakes.

66

Why, he's a very clever young man, miss,” said Jobb, somewhat angrily; "you can't put an old head on young shoulders; but, I assure you, he's considered a very promising young hand he's as neat an anatomist as any that

walk the hospitals."

you

"Oh! I do not doubt his talents; but must not be offended if, having witnessed your

great skill, I put all my trust in you," and Ellen called up a wan smile of conciliation, even while half choking with anxious sorrow.

"Miss, you do me honour. I wish I could see the young gentleman safe through the wood. There's no sacrifice I can make which I ever shrink from when a patient is concerned. And a young gentleman like thisonly son and heir, isn't he, miss?"- Ellen bowed assent" of such a very wealthy and highly respectable old gentleman, I'd go through fire and water to serve. It would be a thousand pities to see a young man with such expectations cut off in his bloom."

Here Mr. Jobb's enthusiasm sent a tear to his eye; he took out a handkerchief with great pomp, and made the most of the tear.

"But though I'm a feeling man, miss," he continued, "I'm, what's more, a family man. There's Mrs. Jobb, the most excellent of wives, though I say it as shouldn't, and ten dear pledges she has presented me with; all, miss, to be provided for, and that by the industry and talents of your humble servant. I'm a man, miss,