Does aught ail thee, child ?" Sudden tears welled up in Cherry's eyes; her lip began to tremble.
"I know not, I know not," she answered, with a little sob.

"It only seems sometimes as though I could not bear the life any longer; it is all so drear, so dull, so dead! one day like another--always the same.

Sometimes I think the narrow house will stifle me! O father, chide me not; I have struggled against the feeling, but the life is killing me! I know not how to bear it--alone." The last word was almost a whisper, and escaped Martin's ears.

He was regarding his child with a thoughtful and perplexed countenance.

He fancied that he was somewhat in the position of a mother hen who sees its foster brood of ducklings take to the water for the first time.