could towards taking care of any person in whom he might be interested”.
“I am no further interested than as a spectator”, said he, with a modesty, admirable, as I thought, to witness. “I happen to be acquainted with the rather worthless character of the person who, from the house opposite, has now twice invaded the sanctity of this place; I have also met in society the object at whom these vulgar attempts are aimed. Her exquisite superiority and innate refinement ought, one would think, to scare impertinence from her very idea. It is not so, however; and innocent, unsuspicious as she is, I would guard her from evil if I could. In person, however, I can do nothing: I cannot come near her”—he paused.
“Well, I am willing to help you”, said I, “only tell me how”. And busily, in my own mind, I ran over the list of our inmates, seeking the paragon, this pearl of great price, this gem without flaw. “It must be madame”, I concluded. “She only, amongst us all, has the art even to seem superior: but as to being unsuspicious, inexperienced, &c., Dr. John need not distract himself about that. However, this is just his whim, and I will not contradict him: he shall be humored: his angel shall be an angel”.
“Just notify the quarter to which my care is to be directed”, I continued gravely: chuckling, however, to myself over the thought of being set to chaperon Madame Beck or any of her pupils.
Now Dr. John had a fine set of nerves, and he at once felt my instinct, what no more coarsely constituted mind would have detected; namely, that I was a little amused at him. The color rose to his cheek; with half a smile he turned and took his hat—he was going. My heart smote me.
“I will—I will help you”, said I eagerly. “I will do what you wish. I will watch over your angel; I will take care of her, only tell me who she is”.
“But you must know”, said he, then with earnestness, yet speaking very low. “So spotless, so good, so unspeakably beautiful! Impossible that one house should contain two like her. I allude, of course“
Here the latch of Madame Beck’s chamber-door (opening into the nursery) gave a sudden click, as if the hand holding it had been slightly convulsed; there was the suppressed ex-
