"It is both, when the man is a gentleman, and a pretty, dark- eyed girl
pities him and stands his friend."

Sarah smiled, and whispered, "Give it me; I'll do my best."

Alfred enclosed the prescription and his note in one cover, handed them
to her, and slipped a sovereign into her hand. He whispered, "Be
prudent."

"I'm dark, sir," said she: and went off briskly homewards, and Alfred
stood rapt in dreamy joy, and so self-elated that, had he been furnished
like a peacock, he would have instantly become a "thing all eyes," and
choked up Jenner's shop, and swept his counter. He had made a step
towards familiarity, had written her a letter; and then, if this
prescription came, as he suspected, from Dr. Sampson, she would perhaps
be at the ball. This opened a delightful vista. Meantime, Mrs. Dodd had
communicated Sampson's opinion to Julia, adding that there was a
prescription besides, gone to be made up. "However, he insists on your
going to this ball."

Julia begged hard to be excused: said she was in no humour for balls: and
Mrs. Dodd objecting that the tickets had actually been purchased, she
asked leave to send them to the Dartons. "They will be a treat to Rose
and Alice; they seldom go out: mamma, I do so fear they are poorer than
people think. May I?"

"It would be but kind," said Mrs. Dodd. "Though really why my child
should always be sacrificed to other people's children----"

"Oh, a mighty sacrifice!" said Julia. She sat down and enclosed the