230 FAKMING BY INCHES; 



time. I tried hard, but failed, to interest him in anything. 

 One day, to entertain him, I told him my dream. 



" Yes, Harriet, but it was only a dream. Such a pleasant 

 home is never destined to be ours." 



Then he leaned back in his chair, and seemed lost in 

 thought, while I went on with my sewing. In a moment or 

 two a smile flitted over his face, and he stared very hard 

 out of the window as if he saw something vastly amusing 

 in the street. But this did not last long ; he soon turned 

 away, and the same old look of weariness returned. 



" A penny for your thoughts, my dear," said I. " If 

 they are pleasant ones, give me my share ; if they are sad 

 ones, let me divide the burden with you." 



" I was thinking of your dream, and wishing we could 

 make it come true. These brick walls and Farwell & Co.'s 

 sunless cistern of a counting-room are slowly killing me. 

 But it is of no use. I could not earn my salt in the 

 country." 



Farther conversation was then silenced by the entrance 

 of the doctor. To tell the truth, I was not glad to see him. 

 His bill was already large enough, and we should have a 

 sorrowful time in paying it off, and to see it increased by 

 another visit was not pleasing. Yet I was mistaken in the 

 man. He had come to do us a real kindness. Going up to 

 Robert, he took his hand and said, " This will be my last 



