The Doctor's Daughter

ill not surprise the reader to learn that there came a day when Destiny, having

etting of a golden June sun. Whether from an excess of spasmodic affectionate hugging, which, by the way, was the chief feature of these joyful monthly, and quarterly, and half-

l-luck, but, on the contrary, a growing perversity began to stimulate me at this epoch more eagerly than ever to rebel against decrees so openly unfair to me, and unable or unwilling, to cope wi

the reflection of a distressed and impatient scowl: usually, too, I was conscious of my step being quick and angry, I was

better self, for, of course, they could not both be mistress of the field. How could I, all untaught,

gers snatched the tangled web that had gone so far astray in the weaving, and in the nick of time made a h

ummer morning, immediately after a festive celebration in baby's honour. My cherished, but homely, wall flow

ing outlines of a glittering carriage that had just rolled splendidly by, that the dregs of my water-can trickled all unheeded by me, down

ke the lady who had just driven by: I was quite my own mistress, with servants and other people to obey me. I had a dashing barouche of my own, and was rolling in conscious grandeur past my step-mother's window, with the back of my expensive bonnet turned towards the half-closed shutter, through which she was sure to be peering enviously-when the laths of the very shutter in question were sh

ssware. I had broken the salutary precept which exhorts us sanguine mortals not to count our chickens before they are hatched, and now mourned the prescribed result, an ice-cold shower bath i

uch shadowy improbabilities, as they seemed to me now, I turned sharply and impatiently from the spot where I had been standing, and passing through a rustic gateway at the end o

ht regarding the seat of my affections, on this particular morning, was not a trivial one. With an inflamed and spiteful

minute openings caused by an ill-fitting door, was drawn quite across the entrance, and in my hasty and unforeseeing impatience I pushed it rudely aside with rough hands and admitted my

d treatment caused that oft-abused fixture to swing unusually far back on its hinges, and knock with a heart-rendin

ultaneous and forcible indication of what awful results may spring from a trifling source. I became angry with myself, for once, and with a very

lly upon the ground, and declaring that "I would pay for this," she turned to the screaming little mortal who was struggling nervously among lace and finery, with no small show

face, toying half indifferently with the ends of a pink ribbon that was fastened artistically to my frock. Suddenly, the unforgiving baby sent forth a fr

cause, I turned abruptly and quitted the apartment in an impertinent silence. M

th across the small table that stood beside me, I laid my face down upon them and burst into tears. After all, I was only a child, though so obstinate and impulsive: only a child, and yet I was very miserable. Reader, have you ever been persuaded to a popular, though strange belief, that our happiest are our youngest days? Are you able to look regretfully back upon your long-vanished yesterdays and wish that destiny might, for one short moment of time, let you hold them in your hands, to live them all over again? If so, indeed your youth must have been an exceptional

t good was I? I was always ill-humored, vexing my step-mother and making baby cry. It was plain to see that I was one too many in the world, and whatever I did with myself I would be surely trespassing upon somebody's privilege, outraging somebody's patience, and making myself a nuisance generally. If there was a better place, thought I, I wonder would I go there when all this discord of my present life had killed me? Besides, old Hannah had told me that I had another mother in that vague "better place." Every night at Hannah's knee I recited a little prayer for her, and asked her to watch over me, to guard me from evil and make me worthy of joining her some day in her happy home. If my "other mother" was so sweet and kind and good, as Hannah told me in confiding whispers she was, why did sh

r-flood and threatened to deluge my already tell-tale cheeks. I was no longer thrown recklessly upon the wooden summer-house bench. The gentle hands that raised me in my dream and bore me heavenward, were not those of a far-off angel, as I understood th

d not here bring forward the wonderful power of association which is the underlying beauty reflected from many a homely surface to eyes that prize and cherish them. What though a thing possess not in reality those charms with which it is identical in our minds and hearts? That which we believe to be, is, as effectually for us as if its existence

pon my head and turned my tearful face towards him. There was a hovering sm

misty eyes. "Is this Amey Hampden, I wond

ad nothing left to do but give way to an outburst of rising ill-humor, or through my gathering tears, to make an humble confession of all that had passed that morning. While I debated with myself I was conscious of his stea

tell me" he urged, with a gentle firmness turning me

sighing and looking away. "I wish she was though

lips trembled ominously, though there

afford to smile upon, and persuade even myself to laugh at, but I fancy my voice must have been unusually sorrowful, as I am sure my face was unusually tear-stained

ittle girl in many ways, and because something disagreeable happens now and then you must not be so impatient and wan

m now. I am not comfortable and I am not fortunate, and disagreeable things are alway

pected Mr. Dalton to faint with fright and surprise on hearing such a daring declaration from me. If I did, I must have been sadly d

Where

urged me to a still more reckless defiance, a

tell papa that 'twas all her doing, that she hated me and I hated her, and I thought 'twas better to go away-and I will go away Mr. Dalton"-I emphasized-"awa

sed with a determination worthy of maturer years, and I was grand with the conviction of having frightened this big man into a be

r have said such ugly things as those I have just heard; she was not a selfish

but before I yielded I

aimless indifferent manner, and looking purposely away at the leg of the rustic tab

, Amey? Look at me and repeat

n his large, warm palm and looked steadily into my face for a moment. I was co

er said you we

nd, we strolled over the lawn and

nearly twenty-fi