es started, half rose from her chair, sank
down again heavily and letting fall her knitting, stared at the invalid.

"Land sakes, alive!" she gasped.

"Now you've dropped it!" said Ravenslee, his voice a little stronger.

"Oh, dear beloved land o' my fathers--it's come!" she exclaimed,
clasping her hands, "the Lord be praised for evermore, it's come!"

"What has?"

"The turn! And you've took it! Doctor Dennison says last night as you'd
take it soon one way or t' other. But all night long while they waited
and watched here, you've laid so pale an' still as a corp'. An' now,
while I'm a-settin' here, you go an' take th' turn so sudden as fair
takes my breath away, Lord be praised! I mean--I mean--oh, I guess I'll
go wake the doctor."

"But you haven't told me what it is," said Ravenslee drowsily.

"What what is?"

"That very peculiar--woolly thing."

"This?" said Mrs. Trapes, picking up the object in question, "this is my
knittin'. Doctor said t' call him th' moment th' turn came--" Her voice
seemed to sink to a slumberous murmur as, having smoothed his pillow,
she crossed the room and very softly closed the door behind her;
wherefore Ravenslee blinked sleepily at the door until its panels seemed
slowly to become confused and merge one into another, changing gradually
to a cloud, soft, billowy, and ever growing until it had engulfed him
altogether, and he sank down and down into unknown deeps of
forgetfulness and blessed quietude.

* * * * *

She was knitting; knitting a shapeless something in red wool, and
Ravenslee thought he had never known her elbows more threatening of
aspect nor seen wool quite so red and woolly; wherefore he presently
spoke, and his voice was no longer a feeble croak.

"Pray what is it, Mrs. Trapes?"

Mrs. Trapes jumped.

"Well, for th' love o' heaven!" she exclaimed, and down fell her
knitting.

"Now you've dropped it!" said Ravenslee a little petulantly.

"Your very--identical--words!" said Mrs. Trapes in awed tones. "Nacher
sure 'moves in a mysterious way her wonders to perform'!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean as them was the identical words as you addressed to me when you
took th' turn two days ago!"

"Two days!" exclaimed Ravenslee, staring.

"Ever since you did take the turn two days ago, you've laid there so
quiet an' peaceful--no more dreams an' ravin'--you've jest laid there
'wrapped in infant slumbers pure an' light', Mr. Geoffrey--