FORTUNATUS' PURSE



'Out, base mechanical churl!'--SHAKESPEARE.


Weeks went on, and nothing more was heard of 'Marilda' except the
wishes and wonderings of the children. Alda decided that she was one
of the heartless fine ladies one heard of in books--and no wonder,
when her father was in trade, and she looked so vulgar; while Wilmet
contended against her finery, and Cherry transferred the
heartlessness to her cruel father and mother, and Robina never ceased
to watch for her from the window, even when Felix and Edgar for very
weariness had prohibited the subject from being ever mentioned, and
further checked it by declaring that Marilda looked like a cow.

There was plenty besides to think of; and the late summer and early
autumn rolled cheerily away. The wonderful remnant of Felix's
birthday gift was partly applied to the hire of a chair for Geraldine
upon every favourable evening; and as the boys themselves were always
ready to act as horses, they obtained it on moderate terms, which
made the sum hold out in a marvellous manner. And not only were these
drives delight unimaginable to the little maid, but the frequent
breaths of pure air seemed to give her vigour; she ate more, smiled
more, and moved with less pain and difficulty, so that the thought of
a partial recovery began to seem far less impossible.

The children trooping about her, she used to be drawn to the nearest