CHATTER XXI.—Continued.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXV, Issue 4253, 29 June 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHATTER XXl.— Continued.

' "Excellently," replied Dr. Grey; "she lias plenty of spirit, and will soon be all right now, if she has nothing to distress her." " Ah! yes," said the Vicar, in a nervous, irresolute manner; "thei'e are reasons why I should be glad to have her away from home for a time, but really we have no right to inflict an invalid upon your wife." "My wife will not think it an infliction," answered Dr. Grey, laughing ; " she is much interested in your daughter, and will be glad to have her." The doctor then went upstairs to inspect his patient and give the nurse her orders, thinking the matter settled. But he discovered before leaving the house that if he had not "reckoned without his host," he had at least reckoned without Betty. She was awaiting him in the hall. ' "If you please, sir," she began, "the master tells me you have invited Miss Elsie to go to your house come next ;Monday." : " Yes, I have, Betty ; the change will be good for her," returned the doctor, smiling as he read "war to the knife" in Betty's st:ong visage. ■ " It's very kind of- you and Mrs. Grey, sir," said Betty, endeavouring to be as civil as inward rage would allow ; " but .I'm afraid Miss Elsie will not be well enough by Monday. In a fortnight's time we should be glad for her to go." " She will be well enough on Monday, Betty," he replied, "if she does not get upset between now and then. Yon understand there must be no discussion about this in her presence." ; "Sir!" cried wrathful Betty, "I've tended them childer sin' they were babif s. Is it likely that I should upset Miss Elsie wi' talk ? " " Very ! " thought the doctor. " The fact is, Betty," he said, quietly, " you don't understand how much the state cf the mind affects the body. Miss Elsie will recover her strength twice as fast if ■ she has change of scene. You must allow me to judge what is best for my patient." , Betty's brow grew very black. , " His patient, indeed ! " she thought, as she went back to her domain, silenced but not defeated. "He's best judge, is he ? The conceit of some folk ! A fortnight sin' he'd never seen her, and he's best judge of what's good for my 'lamb as I've nursed and tended all her life ! " Mr. Vere and Mary had a bad time of it during the few days which elapsed before the " black Monday " when Betty's " lamb " was to be snatched from her fold. • " You're never going to let that doctor man tak' Miss Elsie, sir ! " she said, almost fiercely, on the Monday morning. " There was a sharp frost last night, and look at them clouds. I hope, sir, you'll tell him Avhen he comes that he may just turn him round, and go back." "Really, Betty," remonstrated poor Mr. Vere, " I could not be so rude and — and — ungrateful. Dr. Grey has been most kind, and he must know best." Betty laughed angrily. "Well, sir," she replied, tragically, "of course it's not my place to interf ere. I'm nobbnt a servant, and I hope I know my place. But when j^see such mad doings, I'm like to speakfmy mind. It's nobbut my plain duty, and I hope I've always* done that, sir, to you and the .poor' childer." " Uf course, Betty, my good woman — of conrse," murmured the unfortunate vicar," as Betty paused for a reply ; " I know yon love the children, and take excellent care of them." • " I've only done my duty, sir," said the uaappcased tyrant. " I take it hard after all these yeai's you should let that doctor man take it on himself to give ordera, and even carry away one of the childer when she's ill and wants care. As if a stranger would be likely to know what's good for her as well as her old Betty ! " Here Betty's voice failed her, and her apron went up to her eyes. • At this moment the door opened, and Dr. Grey and Bertie walked in. The doctor's eyes twinkled; he thought the Vicar looked more like a whipped schoolboy than the lawful master- of the house, i " Ah ! Mrs. . Betty," he cried, cheerily, " have you got your young lady ready for incP" 1 "No, sir," answered Betty, sternly; "it's agin my conscience to have anything to do wi' such crazy work. You've happen forgot, sir, as it's the month of December. Miss Elsie's not been outside her room yet." " Well, no," returned the imperturbable doctor, " I've not. forgotten that it is the Cist week of December. Seasonable weather, too. That is why I've brought this warm hood of my wife's ; I thought Miss Elsie would most likely have nothing cf the sort. Come, Betty, cheer up I ■You'll forgive me when I bring your nurseling back to you, rosy and smiling." ! Belly, however, was not to be melted. She lefused even to look at the hood — t hat was an additional offence. "As if the childer hadn't clothes enough," she thought, angrily. Sbo left Mary to make the needful preparations, hovering found all the while like a threatening thunder-cloud. At lonfjtV, l:«.ring some one speak of Elsie's krin£ c&nicd downstairs, she came forward rsreelutely. "Iffo be as the child is to go. I'll carry her myself." And carry iher off she did, as easily as if she had been a baby. 6 When she had tucked her up in the carriage, with shawls., hot bottles, and jvilliws, she retired into the kitchen to /weep and rail at the obstinacy and ingratitude of mankind. : Prank Arniitage was at his gate as usual when the doctor drove by, but on this occasion he did not stop. He waved his hand cheerily as he passed, but Frank bad no eyes for his greeting; he saw oiily the delicate, lovely little face framed i» the warm crimson hood, and leaning back on the pillow with a look of weakness which went to bis heart. Elsie saw him, and smiled her answer to his bow. The kind little doctor pretendeH not to siofcice the colour which dyed her pale cheeks crimson. i Prank, too, saw the blush, and the sight filled him with a, wild, unreasoning happiness. What mattered the coldness t»f the world to him ? What were hard-•hip.-toil, and injustice ? Nothing could deprive him of the sweet assurance that Elsie's heart was in his keeping She pas his — his very OTyi ! r " ' Many waters cannot quench love,' " thought Frank; " I may have some deep waters' to go through, but nothing can »o!> me of that smile and blusb, and 4b.it heavenly sweet message she *ent