"I don't mean any harm," answered her
husband; "only it strikes me that Miss was
pleased to buy the carriage because it was
pretty, and seemed a great thing to send us,
and that she would'nt have cared a straw to
give us a little each, that would have served
us every bit as well."

"I never heard you so ungrateful, Thomas.
Of course she would'nt, because she wished
to please us."

"Or herself, as John said; but may-be I
am wrong; only it goes to my heart to see
the child want food while there is a filagree
carriage in the yard that cost more than
would keep her for six months."

"Well, cheer up," said Sally; "Miss Laura
will be coming home soon, and I'll lay
anything she won't let Bella die of want."

"I'm afraid she won't think of giving to
me, Sally," said Fanny despondingly; "I was
never her maid, you know."

"You would'nt fear, if you knew Miss
Laura as I do, Fanny; she never cares who
she helps so long as the person is deserving,
and in want. She has no pride of that sort,"

Isabel's marriage was put off, and Laura's
return, consequently, postponed. As Bella
grew worse every day, and yet no help came,
the unselfish Sally wrote to her patroness,
telling her of poor Fanny's distress, and
begging her either to send her help, or speak on
her behalf to her sister.

Isabel was dressing for a party when Laura
showed her Sally's letter. "Poor Fanny,"
said she, "I wish I had known it before I
bought this wreath. I have, absolutely, not
a half-franc in the world. Will you buy the
wreath of me at half-price, it has not even
been taken from its box."

"I do not want it," said Laura, "but I will
lend you some money."

"No, I cannot borrow more," said her
sister despondingly. "I owe you already for
the flowers, the brooch, the bill you paid
yesterday, and I know not what else besides;
but I will tell Eugène there is a poor English-
woman in distress, I am sure he will send her
something."

Eugène gave a five-franc piece.

It was late one frosty evening when Sally
ran across to her cousin's cottage, delighted
to be the bearer of the long hoped-for letter.
Fanny was sitting on the fender before a
small fire, hugging her darling to her breast,
and breathing on its little face to make the
air warmer. "I'm afraid," said she, in
answer to Sally's inquiries, "that the child
won't be here long;" and she wiped away a
few hot tears that had forced their way as
she sat listening to the low moans of the little
sufferer.

"But I have good news for you," said her
cousin, cheerfully. "Here is a letter from
Miss Isabel at last. I would not tell you
before, but I wrote to Miss Laura, saying how
you were expecting every week to be put to
bed again, and how Bella was wasting away,
and see, I was right about her, she has sent
you a sovereign, and her sister's letter, no
doubt, contains a pretty sum."

Fanny started up, and could scarcely breathe
as she broke the seal. What was her
disappointment on seeing an order for five
shillings!

"I am very sorry, my good Fanny," said
Isabel, "that just now I have no money. A
charitable gentleman sends you five shillings,
and as soon as I possibly can, I will let you
have a large sum. I have not yet paid for
the carriage I sent you, and as the bill has
been given me several times, I must discharge
it before I send away more money. I hope
that by this time, little Bella is better."

Fanny laid her child upon the bed, and
putting her face by its side, shed bitter tears.
Sally did not speak, and so both remained
till Thomas came in from his work. Fanny
would have hidden the letter from him, but
he saw and seized it in a moment.

"Five guineas for a carriage, and five
shillings for a child's life," said he with a sneer,
as he laid it down. "Do not look for the
large sum, Fanny, you won't get it; but I
will work hard, and bury the child decently."

Fanny felt no inclination to defend her
mistress. For the first time, it occurred to
her that Thomas and John might be right in
their judgment of her. She raised Bella, as
Thomas, who had been twisting up the money
order, was about to throw it in the fire. He
caught a sight of the child's wan face, and,
advancing to the bed, said, in a softened tone,
"Do you know father, pretty one?" and as
Bella smiled faintly, he added, "I will
do anything for your sake. Here, Fanny,
take the money, and get the child something
nourishing."

Bella seemed to revive from getting better
food; and the apothecary held out great
hope of her ultimate recovery, if the improved
diet could be continued; but expenses fell
heavily on Thomas, Fanny was put to bed
with a fine strong little boy, and, though Sally
and Mrs. Maythorn devoted themselves to
her and Bella, the anxiety she suffered from
being separated from her invalid child, added
to her former constant uneasiness, and want
of proper food, brought on a fever that
threatened her life. In a few days she became
quite delirious. During this time Isabel was
married, and Laura returned to England.

When Fanny regained her consciousness
she was in the dark, but she could see someone
standing by the window. On her speaking
the person advanced to her side. "Do
not be startled to find me here," said a sweet
soft voice. "Sally has watched by your side
for three nights, and when I came this evening
she looked so ill that I insisted on her going
to bed; then, as we could find no one on whose
care and watchfulness we could depend, I
took her place. You have been in a sound
sleep. Dr. Hart said you would wake up much
better. Are you better?"