" For, independently of the fright, she is suffering, as all
the world is, from the hay fever."

" Oh," said Miss Medlar, " I did not know that."

" I fear you will," replied Mr. Blandy. " The prostration
it induces is most extraordinary. I cannot mention names;
but I have at present an entire family laid up with it, even
to the servant. They would not take my advice, and — so---
ihere it is."

Mr. Blandy shrugged up his shoulders, with an expression
that meant, " their obstinacy serves them right."

Miss Medlar was alarmed. She did not exactly un-
Ikrstand what the "hay fever" was; but she knew that a



THE FOTTLETON LEOACt. 41 il

fever of any kind, reported in a school, was enough to
ruin it, and so she directly begged Mr. Blandy to take such
measures as he thought proper, to combat its invasion.
Whereupon the three dozen draught bottles (which Mr.
Blandy's assistant had purchased of an old tramp, and washed
clean that morning, with shot and potash) were all refilled,
capped, directed, and sent to Pottleton House Establishment
that evening. And here the assistant indulged in a delicate
little attention. He tied over the corks of the pretty pupil's
phials with rose-coloured paper, whilst the rest had only the
ordinary white demy of common life. The talk this made
in the bedrooms was tremendous, until the teacher came up,
after supper; and then all were as still as mice.
