The young doctor went his rounds, with a small blank-book in his hand, writing down with a pencil the few and simple prescriptions that he gave. His presence had a soothing effect upon the patients, for he spoke kindly to them all. At length he came to Mrs. Chester--two days and three nights she had been struggling with the fatal disease. The little Mary sat meekly by her side, for up to this time she alone had ministered to the sick woman. The young man took Mrs. Chester's hand from the checked coverlet and began to count her pulse. A hundred--more, even more than that he counted before the minute went by. It was a case of fearful danger; he saw that at once. Gladly would he have called in counsel, but no physician had a right within the walls of Bellevue, except those appointed by the Resident. Two of the assistants were ill, and the Resident had not yet returned from his dinner with the Common Council. Perhaps this was a fortunate chance, for the simple remedies ventured upon by the student did no harm, and nature was left untrammelled to wrestle with the disease. "You will let me stay with her. The gentleman at the Park said I might stay, if the Doctor did not object!" said Mary, lifting her eyes to the young man as he laid Mrs. Chester's hand upon the bed. The student had hardly noticed the child before; but the sweetness of her voice pleased him, and he answered that she might stay if she could do any good to her sick friend. "I have been listening. I heard what you said about them all along here. In the morning you shall see if I hav'n't taken some care!" "I hope so," said the student, sadly, "for, without care, the greatest care, a good many must be dead before morning!" "Show me which. Just point them out very softly, and tell me what ought to be done. You need not be afraid that I shall fall asleep!" whispered the little girl, rising eagerly. The student looked at the child in surprise. Her plain face, a moment before so sad, shone with the brightness of an angel's. "I am sure you will not sleep," he said. "Now follow me around to these beds and I will repeat my directions to you--the women, I see are gone out. You will make a small nurse, but a very good one, I dare say!" Mary followed him, listening to every word that fell from his lips, and reading the expression of his face with her intelligent eyes. All night long the child was on her feet moving from bed to bed, carrying drink to one, persuading another to swallow the medicine that had been prescribed, and pouring a spoonful of wine or brandy into the pale mouth of another; thus keeping the feeble lamp of life flickering on, pauper life, it is true, but precious to them as the breath that swells the purple-clad bosom of a monarch.