Our Gentleman Boarder 



flustered, and her bonnet was the least 

 awry, but her hands were too full to 

 right It, 



" Lord, child, what a day ! " she gasped, 

 and went by me into the parlour. " Come 

 in, Sukie," she said, ''and bring the fruit 

 for Miss Mary to see." 



Sukie, looking equally hot and a little 

 subdued, obeyed, and I, with eyes on a 

 basket of cherries, followed them in. 



''Why, Mother, how hot and tired you 

 are ! " said Mary, relieving her of her 

 burden, and going about to remove her 

 shawl. 



My Mother waved her off feebly and 

 sank Into a chair. " Tired .-^ " she said. 

 " Tired ? I should think I was, and yet 

 not a step further than round the New 

 Market ! " 



"And quite far enough too," said Sukie, 

 wiping her brow and cheeks with her 

 handkerchief. 



" There now ! " cried my Mother, almost 

 hysterically ; and she undid her bonnet 

 ribbons to lauorh the easier, and fluno* them 

 back over her shoulders. " To hear her ! 

 O Sukie!" and then she fell to lauo-hino- 

 in the way one may in hot weather, when 

 in such limp and enfeebled condition one 

 is at the mercv of the smallest comicalitv. 



