Now," withdrawing herself from his embrace, and gently re-arranging his pillows, and smoothing the bed-clothes, "shut your eyes, and try to sleep.

I'll stay close beside you, and be as quiet as a mouse." With a faint smile, he did as he was bidden; and she fulfilled her promise to the letter, watching beside him with love and solicitude for two hours, till his eyes again unclosed, and met hers, gazing so tenderly upon him, with an answering look of ardent affection.
"You have had a good nap, and look quite refreshed, dear," she said, bending over him, and softly stroking his hair with her little white hand.
"Yes; I feel much better," he said.

"And you, love,--have you been sitting there all this time ?" "Of course I have," she answered gayly: "did you think I would break my word, or feel any desire to go away and leave you ?" "I know you to be the most devoted of nurses, when it is I who require your services," he returned, with a tenderly appreciative smile.

"You are the best of little wives.

But you must be very weary, and I want you now to go and take some exercise in the open air." "Is that an order ?" she asked playfully.
"Not yet," he returned, in the same tone; "but, if not obeyed as a request, it may become--something stronger." "Well," she said laughing, "it won't hurt me if it does: you can't hurt me in that way any more; for do you know, Ned," and she bent lovingly over him, pressing a kiss upon his forehead, "I have become such a silly thing, that I actually enjoy obeying you,--when you don't order me as if you thought I wouldn't do as you wish, and you meant to force me to it." "Forgive me, love, that I have ever done it in that spirit," he said remorsefully, and coloring deeply.
"Ned, I haven't any thing to forgive," she said, with sudden energy and warmth of affection.
"Then you will obey about the air and exercise ?" he asked, returning to his playful tone.
"Presently, sir, when I have seen you eat something.