Rab looked on concerned and puzzled, but ready for anything that might turn up, were it to strangle the nurse, the porter, or even me.

We walked into the consulting-room, all four; Rab, grim and comic, willing to be happy and confidential if cause should be shown, willing also to be the reverse on the same terms.

I looked at it and examined it carefully, she and James watching me, and Rab eying all three.

"May Rab and me bide?" said James.

"You may; and Rab, if he will behave himself."

She and James and Rab and I retired.

Behind her was James with Rab.

Rab looked perplexed and dangerousforever cocking his ear and dropping it as fast.

Rab's soul was working within him; he saw something strange was going on, blood flowing from his mistress, and she suffering; his ragged ear was up and importunate; he growled and gave now and then a sharp, impatient yelp; he would have liked to have done something to that man.

Rab behaved well, never moving, showing us how meek and gentle he could be, and occasionally, in his sleep, letting us know that he was demolishing some adversary.

The surgeon dressed her, and spoke to her in his own short, kind way, pitying her through his eyes, Rab and James outside the circleRab being now reconciled, and even cordial, and having made up his mind that as yet nobody required worrying, but, as you may suppose, semper paratus.

James did everything, was everywhere, never in the way, never out of it; Rab subsided under the table into a dark place, and was motionless, all but his eye, which followed every one.

He came close to her, and, lifting up her calm, clear, beautiful eyes, she gave him a long look, turned to me kindly but shortly, looked for Rab but could not see him, then turned to her husband again, as if she would never leave off looking, shut her eyes, and composed herself.

" Rab all this time had been full awake and motionless; he came forward beside us; Ailie's hand, which James had held, was hanging down; it was soaked with his tears; Rab licked it all over carefully, looked at her, and returned to his place under the table.

" Rab all this time had been full awake and motionless; he came forward beside us; Ailie's hand, which James had held, was hanging down; it was soaked with his tears; Rab licked it all over carefully, looked at her, and returned to his place under the table.

Rab leaped up and settled himself, his head and eye to the dead face.

I was afraid about him, and yet not afraid; so I sat down beside Rab, and, being wearied, fell asleep.

Rab was in statu quo; he heard the noise, too, and plainly knew it, but never moved.

He motioned Rab down, and, taking his wife in his arms, laid her in the blankets, and happed her carefully and firmly up, leaving the face uncovered; and then, lifting her, he nodded again sharply to me, and with a resolved but utterly miserable face strode along the passage and down-stairs, followed by Rab.

He did not notice me, neither did Rab, who presided behind the cart.

James buried his wife, with his neighbors mourning, Rab watching the proceedings from a distance.

"Where's Rab?"

He, getting confused and red, and intermeddling with his hair, said, "'Deed, sir, Rab's deid."

By JOHN BROWN, M.D., Author of "Rab and his Friends." Boston: Ticknor & Fields.

If the reader would understand the difference between the sentimental and the pathetic treatment of a subject, let him see in "Rab and his Friends" how the pen of Dr. Brown follows the essential lines of that most pure and tender of all stories.