"Oh, mother! Don't talk of leaving me, when you have only just come," said Ellen, in a reproachful tone.
"My dear, there are the others to be thought of, you know," replied her mother. "But you may be sure I will remain with you as long as ever I can."
"How many children have you?" asked the doctor, kindly.
"Nine younger than this one, sir, and one of them a constant invalid."
"Ah, yes, I remember; my daughter was telling me this morning about your little boy," replied Dr. Graham, who had been much interested in the account of Jerry he had heard. "How does he suffer? Tell me all about him."
Mrs. Mansfield readily began to give particulars of the accident which had befallen Jerry, and his consequent sufferings.
The doctor interrupted her with many a question as she proceeded.
"And you have had no opinion on his case, save that of the country doctor who attended him after the accident?" he said, when she had told all.
"We have had no chance of getting any other, sir, living as we do in the country, many miles from any town, with such a large family to bring up, and little money to spend on them."
"True, true, I understand," said the doctor, nodding his head. "But now, do you think you could bring the boy here, that we might see what we can do for him? Of course, I can give no opinion till I have examined him; but it is not improbable that his case may be more hopeful than you suppose."