in the bar-room, she hastened down and called Joe to the hall, and told him that the house must be kept quiet, for Ashbel's life depended upon it.

"I thought he was better," said Joe. "His symptoms are, but he is so weak."

"Well, Agnes, I will do all I can to keep the house still, but that is not much!"

66

Joe, will you tell me what that noise was that I heard just now?" “I suppose I can, if that will be any satisfaction to you."

"No particular satisfaction, only I hope the like will not be heard again," said Agnes, turning to leave him,

66

Agnes, don't be in a hurry. I don't think Mr. Willard knows much what is going on in his house. Dr. Spencer has been so that he couldn't navigate all day, and he is a particular favorite of Mrs. Willard's; if he hadn't

been, I should have sent him adrift before this."

"You shouldn't mind that, Joe, she is only a cipher in her family."

A cipher, she is less than a cipher."

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Well, Joe, I hope she will do better; she has appeared better to-day than I have ever seen her; I hope she will reform."

"Your faith is stronger than mine, you walk by faith and I by sight. Just give her a chance to get at the cellar or bar, and then see if she wouldn't make as much noise in meeting the floor as the Doctor has."

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Why do you give it to him, then?"

I hav'n't given him a drop to-day, Willard made him drunk this morning the first thing; and he has been sitting for the last half hour looking more like an ourang-outang than

t

a doctor. And Christie, not much better off than himself, has been poking all sorts of fun at him, and at last has poked him over with a glass of fourth-proof brandy; you may depend, Agnes, he would not have got it if I had thought he was going to give it to the Doc. There was half a pint of it, and he had only just swallowed it when he fell his whole length upon the floor. Bob and I took him up and laid him on the settee, and put an old cushion under his head, and I guess he will sleep till morning."

"Well, Joe, get the house still as soon as possible.”

"Don't worry, there shall be no

more noise to-night; but you look pale and sick, Agnes, you had better go to bed."

"Not to-night, Joe, for Ashbel needs a great deal of care."

Agnes returned to the room, and

found the child in a sweet sleep. Mr. Willard was by the table writing, and the mother had fallen asleep in her chair. When she awoke she urged her husband to lie down; he consented, after looking at his watch and finding that it was near one. Agnes and the mother were left alone with the child. Mrs. Willard's deportment during the day and night had done much to establish herself in the confidence of her husband and nurse. They had drawn the cradle near a large open window, where Mrs. Willard had seated herself, enjoying the quietude of the house as she gazed upon the waters of the lake which were spread out before her; she resolved in her own heart to rid herself of the restraint and gratify her unconquerable appetite. She had, in part, accomplished this; her husband was in ka sound sleep. "But how shall I dis

pose of Agnes? She watches me every step I take." She laid plan after plan, but in her own judgment she was thwarted. She had now hit upon the right one; her eyes flashed with fiendish pleasure. She arose and went to Agnes, laid her hand kindly upon her head and said, "How pale you look, Aggy; you are ill, are you not?" "Oh, no! Mrs. Willard, I am only weary."

"I wish

you would lie down, I can

take care of Ashbel."

"It will be too much for you-I will sit with you."

"Then I will make a julep; which will you have, Aggy, lemon, wintergreen, or mint?"

"I will take the mint if you please, and I would like it pretty sweet."

Going to the table, she prepared two glasses, and added to Agnes a strong decoction of opium. She said,