Aikenside

if he meant to stay in there all the while. It would be very dreadful if he did, and in her agitation and excitement the cube root was in danger of being altogether forgotten. Half guessing the caus

l view, together with the dainty litt

ar," and Maddy's chances of success were beginni

he former insisted that he should do his duty. Madeline could almost hear the beatings of her heart, and only by counting and recounting the poplar trees growing across the str

so kind, sir

y knocked down from the pile of books the only one at all appropriate to the occasion, the others being as fa

, and fancying that it would not be half so bad to have him approach her with some one of those terrible dental instruments lying before her, as it was to sit and wait as she was waiting. Had Guy Remington reflected a little, he would never have consented to do the doctor's work; but, unaccustomed to country usages, especially those pertaining to

was the meek reply, whi

ndeed, he could not tell what he did intend,

e you th

the altar, where, with others of his age, he had been asked the question propounded to Madelin

hat is thy duty to thy neighbor?" and doubted her ability to repeat it, she said: "My sponsors, in baptism gave me the first name of Madeline Amelia, sir," adding, as she caught

ry replies, as he glanced from Madeline to the open door of the adjoining room, where wa

the laughter which was choking him, and thrown off his disguise. But he could not bear now to undeceive her, and, resolutely tu

teen and a half," so "Going on fifteen" was the reply, t

how young I was," Madeline said, eagerly, her great brown eyes gr

eling a thrill of satisfaction that sweet Lucy Atherstone was not obliged to sit there in that doctor's office to be questioned by him or any other man, he said:

that she could not positively tell whether she had ever heard that word before, m

in Guy's estimation, but it would not do to stop here, a

her ideas of what it would probably be. She had never looked inside a Latin grammar, and again her truthful "I don't

" Guy said, his manner indicating the doubt he

ever heard it before? Mr. Remington was waiting for her; she must say something, and with

smile broke all over his face, telling poor Maddy plainer than wo

he frightened hare, "it is not right. I don't know w

idea flitted across Guy's mind, as he thought how pretty and bright was the eager face upturned to his, the pure white forehead, suffus

th an emphasis on the last word, which would have made

tepped into the adjoining room to consult with the doctor, but he was gone. So returning again

ling some curiosity now to ascertain that fact, he plied her with questions philosophical, questions algebraical, and questions geometri

dizzy. They don't teach that in commo

ely wrong, and mentally cursing himself for the bl

ch? Perhaps you c

d throwing off her bonnet, in the vain hope that it might bring relief to her poor, giddy

ing the books designated, she answered but little better than before, and Guy was wondering what he should do next, when

ld ought to do better than she has done. Why, she ha

ck of marble. She knew that Guy had not done her justice, and this helped to increase the torpor stealing over her. Still she did not lose a syllable of what was saying in the back office, an

and the doctor demurring on the ground that he ought to be more strict. As usual, Guy overruled, and seating himself at the table, the doctor was just commencing: "I hereby certify-" while Guy was bending over him, when the latter was startled by a hand laid firmly on

ould not take it. You do not think me qualified. I heard you say so. I do not want to be pitied.

e Guy tried to excuse her failure, saying she no doubt was frightened. She would probably do better again, and might as well accept the certificate, but Madeline still said no, so decidedly that further remonstrance

l reproach, while the eyes she lifted to his looked so grieved and weary that he insensibly murmured to himself: "Poor child!" as he left her, and with the doctor repaired to the house, where Agnes was impatiently waiting fo

her. "How can I hold up my head again at home where nobody will understand just how it was; nobody but grandpa and grandm

gton and Dr. Holbrook were chatting gayly with Agnes, a childish fi

ajar. Peering curiously in, she saw the crumpled bonnet, with its ribbons of blue, and, attracted by this, advanced into the room, until she came where Madeline was lying. With a feeling that something was wrong, Jessie bent over the prostrate girl, asking if she were as

d how fair was the face which never moved a muscle beneath his scrutiny. The doctor was wholly self-possessed. Maddy had no terrors for him now. She needed his services, and he rendered them willingly, applying

y saying it was possible she was in the habit of fainting; many people were. Very daintily, Agnes held up and back the skirt of her rich silk as if fearful that it might come in contact with Madeline's plain delaine; then, as it was not very interesting for her to stand and see the doct

r," she said. "Leave me, pl

ed upon the lounge and, laying her curly head caressingly against Madeline's arm

d wept out a wild, stormy fit of weeping which did her so much good. Forgetting that Jessie could not understand, and feeling it a relief to tell her grief to some one, she said, in reply to Jes

er waxen fingers threaded the soft, nut-brown hair res

very sweet, and they talked together as children will, until Mrs. Ag

about it," Jessie said, as she wound her arms a

looking lady who swept past the door, accompanied by Guy and Dr. Holbrook. Neither did she hear, or notice, if she did, the hum of their voices as they talked together for a moment, Agnes asking the doctor very prettily to come up to

for a time among the powders and phials, summoned courage to ask Ma

ver lifting up her head, or even thinking whi

ge of Tom, his chore boy, he went away, feeling slightly uncomfortable when

t was all humbug tormenting her with Greek and Latin. Yes; I'll question her when I get back, and if she'll possibly pass, give her the

as brief as possible, he alighted at her gate, and knocked impatiently at her door. He found her pretty sick, while both her children needed a prescription, and so long

came back. Grandpa Markham had returned, and Madeline, who recognized old Sorrel's step, had g

ixing about her feet the warm buffalo ro

andpa, I

y home before Madeline found voice to say so much, and they w

dy, I fai