must run for the doctor, Nancy," I exclaimed; "there's not a moment
to lose;" and snatching up my hat I rushed out of the house, assured
that Nancy would do her best in the meantime.

I had caught sight of Dr Rolt passing along the street on the previous
day, so I knew that he was at home, and I felt more inclined to go to
him than to Mr Jones. I ran as I had not run for a long time, and no
one ventured to stop me now. The doctor was on foot, early as was the
hour. He remembered mother and Mary and me the moment I mentioned my
name.

"I'll come to see your little sister directly," he said.

I waited for him, fearing that he might not find the house. He was soon
ready, and, considering his age, I was surprised how well he kept up
with me. I eagerly ushered him into the house. He had not been long
with Mary before he sent me off to the chemist to get some medicine, for
which I had fortunately enough in my pocket to pay. When I came back he
gave it to her himself, and said that he would send some more in the
evening; but he would not tell me what he thought of her.

I will not dwell on this unhappy time. The doctor came twice every day
and sometimes oftener, but Mary seemed to be getting no better. I had
to go out to get work, but all I could make was not sufficient for our
expenses, and I had to run into debt, besides which the widow's rent was
due, and she could not pay it.

One day Jim brought me a few shillings, which he said the watermen had
given him, but times were bad with most of them, and they could do but
little. This enabled me to get some things absolutely necessary for
Mary and food for the rest of us. The landlord called two or three
times for rent, and at last said that he must put in a distress if it
was not paid. The thought of what the consequence of this would be to
Mary made me tremble with fear. Ill as she and Mrs Simmons were, their
beds might, notwithstanding, be taken from beneath them. The widow
might be carried off to the workhouse, and we should be turned into the
street I begged hard for delay, and promised that I would do all I could
to raise the money. The landlord replied that he would give us two days
more, but would not listen to anything further I had to say. The doctor
had just before called, so that I could not then tell him of our
difficulty. He had not yet given me any assurance that he thought Mary
would recover. Nancy could not leave the house, as she was requi