introduced him into gay company, and, fascinated with a new and more exciting kind of life, he was fast forming associations and acquiring habits of a dangerous character.  It was rare that he spent an evening at home; and, instead of being of any assistance to his mother, was constantly making demands on her for money.  The pain all this occasioned Mrs. Darlington was of the most distressing character.  Since the children of Mr. and Mrs. Scragg came into the house, Edward and Ellen, who had heretofore been under the constant care and instruction of their mother, left almost entirely to themselves, associated constantly with these children, and learned from them to be rude, vulgar, and, in some things, even vicious.  And Miriam had become apparently so much interested in Mr. Burton, who was constantly attentive to her, that both Mrs. Darlington and Edith became anxious on her account.  Burton was entire stranger to them all, and there were many things about him that appeared strange, if not wrong.

So much for the experiment of taking boarders, after the lapse of a single quarter of a year.

CHAPTER V.

About this time a lady and gentleman, named Marion, called and engaged boarding for themselves and three children.  In Mrs. Marion there was something that won the heart at first sight, and her children were as lovely and attractive as herself; but towards her husband there was a feeling of instant repulsion.  Not that he was coarse or rude in his exterior—­that was polished; but there were a sensualism and want of principle about him that could be felt.

They had been in the house only a week or two, when their oldest child, a beautiful boy, was taken ill.  He had fever, and complained of distress in his back and pain in his head.  The mother appeared anxious, but the father treated the matter lightly, and said he would be well again in a few hours.

“I think you’d better call in a doctor,” Mrs. Darlington heard the mother say, as her husband stood at the chamber door ready to go away.

“Nonsense, Jane,” he replied.  “You are easily frightened.  There’s nothing serious the matter.”

“I’m afraid of scarlet fever, Henry,” was answered to this.

“Fiddlesticks!  You’re always afraid of something,” was lightly and unkindly returned.

Mrs. Marion said no more, and her husband went away.  About half an hour afterwards, as Mrs. Darlington sat in her room, there was a light tap at her door, which was immediately opened, and Mrs. Marion stepped in.  Her face was pale, and it was some moments before her quivering lips could articulate.

“Won’t you come up and look at my Willy?” she at length said, in a tremulous voice.

“Certainly, ma’am,” replied Mrs. Darlington, rising immediately.  “What do you think ails your little boy?”

“I don’t know, ma’am; but I’m afraid of scarlet fever—­that dreadful disease.”