"He hasn't any right to be," said Ralph; "'tisn't wicked to smoke. But I'll tell Art not to let him know what made you sick." Just then the doctor came in. Sam had met him in the hall. "What's the matter?" he asked; "sick, Max? Ah, you've been smoking?" sniffing the air of the room and glancing at the boy's pallid face. "Tell him it isn't dangerous. Art," laughed Ralph, "for I do believe he's dreadfully scared." "No, I'm not!" protested Max indignantly, "but I'm sick, and giddy, and half blind. I never smoked before, and didn't know it would sicken me so." "How many cigars have you smoked?" asked Arthur, taking hold of his wrist. "Only half a one," said Ralph; "he threw the rest of it in the fire." "The best place for it," said Arthur. "Don't be alarmed, my boy, the sickness and all the other bad effects will pass off after a while; all the sooner if you are breathing pure air. Ralph, open the door into the hall and the one opposite. Then ring for Sam to kindle a fire in that room." As he spoke he took Max in his arms, and, Ralph preceding them to open the doors, carried him into an unoccupied bedroom, laid him on a couch, and covered him up carefully to guard against his taking cold. "No need to ring for Sam; fire's laid all ready to kindle," remarked Ralph, glancing at the open grate. He struck a match, and in another minute the flames were leaping up right merrily. Meantime a report that Max was sick had reached the parlor, and Mr. Dinsmore, his daughter, and granddaughter came up to express their sympathy and see for themselves how serious the illness was. Their faces were full of anxiety and concern till they learned the cause of the sickness, when they evidently felt much relieved. "Dear boy, I'm sorry you are suffering," Violet said, leaning over him, "but I hope you will never try it again." "Papa smokes," he said, "so I thought it was all right for me." "No," said Mr. Dinsmore; "a grown person may sometimes do safely what is dangerous for a younger one. You have my sympathy this time, Max, but if ever you make yourself sick in the same way again, I don't think I shall pity you at all. He will hardly be able to go home to-day, Arthur?" "No, sir; leave him here in my care. To-morrow he will probably be quite recovered, and I will drive him over in my gig." "Would you like me to stay with you, Max?" Violet asked, laying her cool hand on his forehead. "Or me?" asked her mother. "No, thank you, Grandma Elsie and Mamma Vi," he said. "You are both very kind, but Walter and Gracie wouldn't know what to do without you; and I shall do very well." "Yes," said Ralph, "I'll help Art take care of him. I ought to, as I gave him the cigar that sickened him so." Mr. Dinsmore and the ladies then bade good-by and went down-stairs, the doctor accompanying them, leaving the two boys alone together. "Do you begin to get over it, old fellow?" asked Ralph.