"Surely, there must be some healing virtue even in your talk, for I feel remarkably well to-day," was his wife's delighted addition. "How glad, oh, how glad I am," fluttered Mrs. Reade. A movement from Jem caused Mrs. Hayden to notice his extra dish of sauce and huge piece of frosted cake. "No, Jem, dear, you mustn't eat any more to-night, and you know mamma don't want you to have any cake." "O-o-o-h, peaze, tan't I have some more?" "Not any more to-day. You know you had to be sick all night, not long ago, and mamma had to give you some medicine. You don't want to have to take paregoric, do you?" "No-o-o, but I want e take!" "Mamma said you couldn't have any. You're too little, anyway. Didn't I tell you I ought to have the biggest piece 'cause my stomach's the biggest, an' I'm not afraid of stomachache. Give me your sauce, if you can't eat it," said shameless Fred. Papa and mamma Hayden looked upon their oldest son in dismay, as he thus openly delivered his sentiments. "Hush, Freddie, you mustn't want any more, either, nor talk that way to Jem. You have had enough for to-night." "Well, I've had six biscuits any way," and Fred settled himself back with a satisfied air as though he could stand anything if necessary, while poor Jem was taken away from the table crying as if his heart would break at the loss of his coveted sweets. "You see, we seldom have company, and the children are unused to sweet things as a rule, because the doctor always says their diet must be carefully attended to, in order to avoid inflammation of the bowels, which Jem once had," explained Mrs. Hayden with the old look of weariness for a moment settling back on her face. "Just wait till you have studied Christian Healing and then see how to manage," said Mrs. Reade with sparkling eyes. "Have you taken such a fancy to this too, Mrs. Reade?" asked Mr. Hayden, rather teasingly. "Oh, she's almost a crank _now_," answered her husband, with a merry twinkle. "Well, it is very good to have such an article in the family. It keeps things lively and announces the world's progress with unerring certainty," she retorted, and with this good-natured sally they rose from the table. The evening was spent in a mixture of small talk and earnestness, and before they departed Mrs. Hayden received her first treatment. CHAPTER VII. "Like an AEolian harp, that wakes No certain air, but overtakes Far thought with music that it makes,-- "Such seemed the whisper at my side; 'What is't thou knowest, sweet voice?' I cried; 'A hidden hope,' the voice replied." --_Tennyson._