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Besides this, the care of her large family was a constant worry

to her: first, the nursing of her young baby did not go well,

then the nurse had gone away, now one of the children had fallen

ill.

"Well, how are all of you?" asked her mother.

"Ah, mamma, we have plenty of troubles of our own. Lili is ill,

and I'm afraid it's scarlatina. I have come here now to hear

about Kitty, and then I shall shut myself up entirely, if-God

forbid-it should be scarlatina."

The old prince too had come in from his study after the doctor's

departure, and after presenting his cheek to Dolly, and saying a

few words to her, he turned to his wife:

"How have you settled it? you're going? Well, and what do you

mean to do with me?"

"I suppose you had better stay here, Alexander," said his wife.

"That's as you like."

"Mamma, why shouldn't father come with us?" said Kitty. "It would

be nicer for him and for us too."