he was still in the upward movement at the time when the fatal
pestilence appeared.

On going home at dinner time, Hobart's wife said to him, with a
serious face--

"A demijohn, with some kind of liquor in it, was sent here to-day."

"Oh, yes," he replied, it is brandy that Doctor L--ordered me to
take as a cholera preventive."

"Brandy!" ejaculated Mrs. Hobart, with an expression of painful
surprise in her voice and on her countenance, that rather annoyed
her husband.

"Yes. He says that he takes it every day as a preventive, and
directed me to do the same."

"I wouldn't touch it if I were you. Indeed I wouldn't," said Mrs.
Hobart, earnestly.

"Why wouldn't you?"

"You will violate your contract with the Sons of Temperance."

"Not at all. Brandy may be used as a medicine under the prescription
of a physician. I wouldn't have thought of touching it had not
Doctor L--ordered me to do so."

"You are not sick, Edward."