410
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
he was coming to pay me a visit. I never take any, and
a little would be so good for you and poor nurse. I'll
send some to you."
So coming down stairs Eachel said, "Is the Vicar at
home?" Yes, he was in the study, and there they found
him brushing his seedy hat, and making ready for hia
country calls in the neighborhood of the town. The
hour was dull without little Fairy; but he would soon be
up and out again, and he would steal up now and see him.
He could not go out without his little farewell at the bed-
side, and he would bring him in some pretty flowers.
"You've seen little Fairy?" asked the good Vicar, with
a very anxious smile, "and you think him better, dear
Miss Lake, don't you?"
"Why, I can't say that, because you know, so soon as
he's better, he'll be quite well; they make their recoveries
all in a moment."
"But he does not look worse?" said the Vicar, lifting
his eyes eagerly from his boot which he was buttoning on
the chair.
"'Well, he does look more tired, but that must be till
his recovery begins, which will be, please Heaven, im-
mediately."
And so they talked over the case of the little man, who
with Noah and his sons, and the battered soldiers and
animals before him, was fighting, though they only dimly
knew it, silently in his little bed, the great battle of life
or death.
- "Mr. Larkin came to me the evening before last," said
Rachel, " and told me that the little sum I mentioned —
now don't say a word till you have heard me — was not
sufficient; so I want to tell you what I have quite resolv-
ed on. I have been long intending some time or other to
change my place of residence, perhaps I shall go to