MORE TROUBLE. 51

“But I’m not hungry,” Nellie whispered
back. ;

“Never mind. Do as I tell you, or you'll be
good for nothing soon.”

Very reluctantly Nellie went down and ate
her solitary meal. However, she felt less sad
when she had mended the fire, drawn down
the blinds, and lighted the lamp, just as her
mother usually did at about this time.

She was still there when a knock at the
door sounded briskly through the silent house.
Nellie ran to open, and let in the doctor,
who went straight upstairs.

He was gone so long that she began to grow
frightened, and to fancy the worst things that
could have happened. But she was resolved
to wait there and let him out, so as to ask him
what he thought about her brother.

At last she heard his step and went to meet
him.

“Oh, please, sir,” she asked him timidly,
“how are they?”

He followed her into the kitchen, sat down,
and took her on his knee.

“How are they, little woman?” he said,
stroking her red hair in a fatherly way. “Well,