CHAPTER XIII.
GETTING WELL.
Oscar had reason to remember the first time he went down stairs, after his fit of sickness.

It was in the night-time.

He awoke, feeling quite hungry; for he was yet kept on a spare diet, which was far from satisfying the cravings of his appetite.

He was alone in his room, and all the rest of the family were asleep.

A lamp was burning dimly in the fire-place of his chamber, and the door that led into his mother's room was open, that she might be ready, at the least sound of alarm.
After thinking the matter over a few minutes, and satisfying himself that no one in the house was awake, he determined to go down stairs in quest of something to eat.
"What is the use of starving a fellow to death, because he has been sick!" he said to himself.