personal appearance, handsome, young, intellectual, social and elegant, with the outside indications of that brisk and practical energy, which not only promises but promotes professional success.

Dr. Curtis was impressed unfavorably. He had seen much of the world. It was certainly remarkable that this new acquaintance of his wife should have sent for him, so soon after his arrival in the city, without a cause. The thing looked the more singular, as Sterling did not invite him to examine the child. And as he was not the man to let his curiosity get the better of his decorum, he left the room without even again looking towards the chamber where the child lay.

"You will consider me your debtor, Doctor," said Sterling! "and I shall claim you as my physician during my stay in Washington. I can not regret that I have nothing for you to do, however much I may be annoyed at having disturbed you so early."

"These disappointments are always agreeable," responded Curtis, as he took his leave.

Sterling, much dissatisfied with the events of the morning, and particularly with his interview with Curtis, threw himself on a sofa, and plunged into one of his habitual fits of vague, indefinite thought, from which he was aroused by the tremendous voice of the breakfast gong.

"Another subterfuge," said he-"another subterfuge necessary?" The only way to get the child's

breakfast is to order my own to be brought up, so that it may be divided!"

Ringing for a waiter, he ordered to be brought "eggs, toast, coffee, beef-steak, buckwheat and molasses."

"A considerable breakfast for a sick man," thought the waiter, as he went to fetch it.

Lily had actually fallen asleep. Her cheek was flushed; her lips slightly swollen, and her breathing was soft and regular. Her curls hid, she looked very like a boy.

Sterling arranged her chamber with washing utensils, towel and soap, and placed a comb and brush near the mirror, with a bottle of cologne. Leaving the child to sleep, he closed her chamber door, not locking it, only taking the precaution to lock his parlor door, as he went out to breathe the fresh air, and to see the sights of the avenue.

Standing on the porch of Gadsby's Hotel, Sterling's attention was attracted by the dashing along of a buggy, containing two gentlemen, drawn by a fleet black horse. There was a crowd of persons by; all seemed to be excited, by the appearance of the equipage, and some hats were lifted. The gentleman driving was pale and thin in appearance; on the left, was seated a red-faced large man, with a monstrous nose.

"Who is that?" asked Sterling, of one of the bystanders.

"That is the President, taking a drive with Colonel Blunderbuss."

"Ah!" said Sterling, "is Blunderbuss a favorite with the President ?"

"Yes-they are great chums."

Sterling walked off, almost shouting, "hurrah for Silly and Charibdis !"

CHAPTER XI.

The reader will remember that Beatrice was accompanied, on her return home, by her father, Col. Walker, and by her younger sister. Helen was a joyous girl, about thirteen years of age, crowned with all the graces that innocence and mirth could give to youth and beauty. Col. Walker was about sixty years of age, of robust constitution. He had amassed a large fortune, having been engaged many years in the lucrative employment of sugar planting. He had extensive estates. His plantations were distinguished for the beauty, economy and completeness of their agricultural facilities. His daughter had been married about two years. She had given him glowing accounts of the happiness she enjoyed with her husband; and one of the objects of this visit on the part of the father, was to make them a liberal donation of property. Upon her marriage, he had given her a handsome out-fit, and four favorite family servants of her own choosing, but nothing else. With this she had been perfectly satisfied, for her husband's income, from his

practice, was very ample for their support. But she was not surprised, as she sat by the fire, in her cozy little dining room, waiting for the return of her husband to breakfast from his visit to Sterling, when her father said:

"I suppose, daughter, that you think it is time for me to do something for you, in the way of property? I am very well pleased with the doctor. He is all that I had expected from his fine character and attainments. His professional distinction gratifies me. He will make you happy, if you do your duty, and I have the fullest confidence in you. You would be very well able to get along, without my assistance, but I am more than willing to divide with you now, trusting that you will make good use of your time and means; and above all, advising you, my dear child, not to let a superfluous amount of ready money make you either prouder or more expensive in your habits. Your equipage is not grand, but handsome. Do not set up as a high-flyer. Enrich your grounds; embellish your gallery; enlarge by degrees your house; store your library; have about you the elegancies and comforts of good living, not the extravagances of luxury and ostentation. If you wish one or two more house servants, I will send you the best we have at home. Do not think of having white servants. Don't think of French cooks. You will perhaps need a man for your regular gardener, but I suppose no more for the present. Here is a certificate of deposit for your private use, of five thousand dollars. Here is one for the doctor,

for twenty thousand dollars. He sits at the foot of the table, does he, my dear?”

"No father; he sits here on my left. He will never consent to take the foot, except when we have company. This morning, I suppose he will sit at the foot. But here he comes;" and the doctor's step on the porch was heard as he approached.

Col. Walker stepped to the foot of the table and, lifting the plate, placed under it a certificate of deposit in the bank of New York, for twenty

thousand dollars.

Beatrice met her husband at the door. anything serious?"

"Is there

'Nothing: Genl. Sterling is quite well. He sent for me for a child that had a convulsion in his room; but it was quite recovered before I got there."

Beatrice was glad; and the cheerful company sat down to breakfast.

The doctor had plucked from the side walk a rosebud, slightly frosted, but beautiful for November. He placed it in his wife's hair, whence it drooped with two or three green leaves over her left temple. The small black patch had been renewed, this morning, for the doctor had kissed it away during the night: The face and eyes of this charming woman glowed with happy exhilaration, as she requested her husband to take the foot of table. There was some witchery in the merry expression of her countenance which he noticed. "Look here," said she, "what a present!" and she flourished before him her five thousand dollar certificate!