to make clear to strangers, and so uninteresting when they are explained.

Even with the most patient and amicable tradespeople in the world, however, Christmas has long been a festival, above all others, associated in shopkeepers' minds with the discharge of overdue book-debts; and it was an omen of the darkest complexion when, on an early day in December, 1830, a report was circulated in Turnham Green, that the gentlefolks from Linden House had quitted it, no one could tell why or whither.

The fact was, that the crisis was approaching so rapidly-the cash (to use a common phrase) was ebbing at such a rate, that Mr. and Mrs. Wainewright, consulting seriously together, concluded that the best course, under the distressing circumstances, was to quit the place, and move up provisionally into town, till something could be arranged. There was not much breathing time.

The girls had of course to be told that there was a trifling pecuniary dilemma; but they were not informed that everything they had left behind them in their fine house in the suburbs was under a bill of sale, which had been renewed from time to time since August, and could not be put off much longer. What was the use of making the dear creatures miserable, and what did they know about bills of sale? So Mr. and Mrs. Wainewright, Miss Helen and Miss Madeleine Abercromby, two female servants and baby Griffiths Wainewright, went, on the 12th of December, 1830, into lodgings at No. 12, Conduit Street, Regent Street, over the shop of Mr. Nicoll, the tailor.

They were somewhat dear quarters to have chosen, the paucity of funds considered; but Mr. Wainewright liked to see those about him comfortable-and to be comfortable himself. Besides, when important business has to be transacted, there is always an immense advantage in being central.

From Conduit Street, by prompt and skilful management, Linden House might still be saved. So, at least, Mr. and Mrs Wainewright calculated. But no time was to be lost; for the holders of security threatened, unless the claim against the estate were settled, to realize before Christmas. Besides local creditors, they owed £610 under a warrant of attorney, to Mr. Sharpus, of Cockspur Street, crockery dealer and (under the rose, to oblige a friend), money-lender, and about £200 to an auctioneer in Piccadilly, a personal friend. There was also a bill of sale on the furniture, granted on the 8th of July, 1830, to the said Mr. Sharpus, and a man (as I have stated) was in possession. The warrant and bill were held over by consent to the 21st December instant.

To the two dear girls, although the temporary embarrassment was not altogether capable of disguise, the unlooked-for change in their circumstances was made to wear, as far as might be, the appearance of a jaunty distraction, which would afford a capital opportunity for visiting the various places of amusement in the metropolis. As to Turnham Green, it was quite in the country, and the journey to and fro after dusk was not only fatiguing, but positively dangerous.

The charm of the theatres alone was sufficient to redeem the new arrangement from much of its strangeness and incidental inconveniences. They went to the play on the 13th December, the day after their arrival in town. They paid another visit on the following evening. Conduit Street was so central that it seemed a pity to engage a coach for so short a distance, though the weather was very severe and wet. Helen's boots were too thin, and her feet were wet, when she reached the theatre, and she was so imprudent as to sit out the performance. They walked home, however, and had supper. To go to bed after an evening's amusement without some refreshment is so cheerless. There were oysters and ale; on the preceding evening it had been lobsters and bottled porterrather unwholesome diet at so late an hour. Helen declined at first, on the plea that she felt a chill, and would rather retire at once, but she was over-persuaded.

In the night, the poor girl was very poorly. It was thought she had taken cold. Mr. Wainewright sent to a chemist's for a black draught, which she took; but on Thursday the 16th, as she did not improve they called in Dr. Locock, of Hanover Square, an old acquaintance of the family, who found her sitting in her bedroom, and suffering from "a great headache, a weight over the eyes, and partial blindness; she had a full, labouring pulse, and shooting pains about the head." He ordered her camomile and senna as an aperient, and promised to look in again.

On Friday morning, the 17th, the head did not seem to be much easier, and Dr. Locock recommended cupping, which relieved the head for the moment, but made the patient feverish. She was. somewhat better, and got up at dinner-time, and Mrs. Wainewright and Madeleine paid her the greatest possible attention. She was obliged to recline on the sofa, and was observed by the servants to shiver a good deal; she complained also of sickness, but Dr. Locock thought her progressing favourably, and merely continued the treatment, Mr. and Mrs. Wainewright using their own judgment as to the administration of the medicine. In simple cases, such as Dr. Locock had pronounced this to be, nothing was more common than for people to physic themselves.

On the night of Saturday the 18th, Sunday the 19th, and Monday, she had vomited so violently as to leave her in a most exhausted state; through the whole of Sunday night she was very restless and hysterical, and on the Monday morning (December 20th) she betrayed symptoms of delirium, and declared she saw a little boy in the room. It was extreme debility occasioned by the sickness. Still on the Tuesday morning Dr. Locock pronounced her better, directed a continuance of her medicine -a camphor pill, which served as a sedative, and was to call again as usual, to see how she went on. He apprehended no immediate danger; but she was to be kept quiet, and the child (Griffiths Wainewright) was not to go near her. Helen, however, was still confined to her bed,

and evidently needed great care. She had been upstairs just a week, and Mr. and Mrs. Wainewright held a little consultation together, and thought that Helen would be better for a powder, of which the nauseous flavour could be disguised, as usual, by giving it in jelly; and Mr. and Mrs. Wainewright, having satisfied themselves that their patient had played them no trick, but had really taken what was good for her, went out for a stroll, leaving Helen under the charge of an old and trusty servant, who had been at Linden House in the old Doctor's time, and who had known Mr. Wainewright since he was a little boy. Mr. and Mrs. Wainewright promised to return as soon as possible, and nurse was to take every imaginable care of the invalid.

About two in the afternoon, not very long after the departure of her master and mistress, the woman was alarmed beyond measure by symptoms of violent convulsions, and by Miss Abercromby grasping her hand like a vice. Dr. Locock was instantly summoned, and discovered, on examination, abnormal pressure on the brain; the poor young lady cried, "Oh doctor, I am dying! I feel I am, I am sure so." He tried to reassure her; but she went on: "My mother died in the same way, yes, my poor mother! Oh, my poor mother!" Locock wrote a new prescription which she took at once, and which appeared to relieve her; and when he left, pronounced the crisis averted; she was far easier and more composed, and in fact said to him: "Oh, doctor, I was gone to heaven, but you have brought me back to earth!"