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238
DUTY AND INCLINATION.

nicious, and perhaps serve but to aggravate the symptoms and render her illness more alarming."

Submitting to his better judgment, Mrs. De Brooke returned to resume her station by the side of her infant patient.

Nothing could have arisen more untimely, on more accounts than one, or have thrown a greater inconvenience upon them than this illness of their child. For confined as was De Brooke and his family for space, possessing but two small rooms, it was now necessary that their sleeping arrangements, at best incommodious, should be altered. In consequence the bed on which Mrs. De Brooke had hitherto placed her three children, was now destined to accommodate her husband. Finding himself better as the hour of repose arrived, he would not suffer the little Rosilia to be removed from the place she had occupied during the day; preferring to throw himself beside the other two children than to take her from the side of her mother. But for his greater ease, Mrs. De Brooke disposed of Oriana differently, placing her at the foot of her own couch. With this arrangement she was better enabled to lend her assistance to the little invalid. Sunk into a state which might resemble sleep, a state of languid inanition, there she lay alike un-