I!"

"Yes, sir," said Margaret Bean, trembling, her eyes big, her white
face elongated in her starched cap ruffles.

"Go to bed!" said Lot, savagely, and the old woman scuttled out, glad
to be gone.

Never before had Lot addressed her so. "I believe he did do it
himself," she told her husband next morning, for she could not wake
him to intelligence that night; "he's jest ugly 'nough to."

The next day at early dawn Lot's bell, which was kept on his stand
beside the bed, in case he should be worse in the night and need
assistance, tinkled sharply.

"Send your husband after the doctor," Lot ordered, peremptorily, when
Margaret answered it; and presently early risers saw old man Bean
advancing in a rapid shuffle towards the doctor's, and soon the
doctor himself whirled past, his back bent to the rapid motion of his
gig. The report that Lot Gordon was worse went through the village
like wildfire. A crowd collected in the store as soon as the shutters
were down; there was a knot of men before the lawyer's office waiting
for him to come; and several hot-headed young fellows pressed into
the stable and urged upon Silas Beers that he should keep the old
white racer in readiness for an emergency that day, and also several
others which, if not as fleet, had good staying powers.

When the doctor entered Lot Gordon's chamber Margaret Bean followed,
tremblingly officious, in his wake, with a bowl and spoon in hand.

"I want to see the doctor alone," said Lot; and the old woman
retreated before his coldly imperious order. "Stay out in the
kitchen," ordered Lot, further, "and don't come through the entry; I
shall hear you if you do."

"Yes, sir," replied Margaret Bean, and obeyed, nor dared listen at
the door, as was her wont, so terrified was she lest Lot could indeed
hear and had heard in times past.

The doctor, redolent of herbs and drugs, set his medicine-chest on
the floor, and advanced upon Lot, who waved him back with a
half-laugh.

"Lord, let's have none of that nonsense this morning," he said. "Sit
down; I want to talk to you."

The doctor was gray and unshaven and haggard as ever, from a midnight
vigil, the crumbs of his hasty breakfast were on his waistcoat; his
eyes were bright as steel under heavy, frowning brows.

"Are ye worse? Has it come on again?" he demanded.

"No; sit down."

The doctor snatched up his medicine-chest with a surly exclamation.

"Where are you going?" asked Lot.

"Back to my b