ally, "I
think Mr. Hambleton's broth is burning."

"Ah, well, very well!" said Agatha. And in spite of herself she smiled.

Hand found Mrs. Stoddard installed in James Hambleton's room. Doctor
Thayer and Aleck had gone, both leaving word that they would return
before night. Mrs. Stoddard had smoothed James's bed, folded down the
sheet with exactness, noted her brother's directions for treatment, and
sat reading her Bible by the window. Mr. Hand stood for a moment,
silently regarding first the patient, then his nurse.

"By the grace of God, he will pull through, I firmly believe!"
ejaculated Mrs. Stoddard.

As the first words came in that resonant deep voice, Hand thought that
the new nurse was swearing, though presently he changed his mind.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied with unwonted meekness. Then, "I'll sleep an
hour or two, if that is agreeable to you, ma'am."

"Perfectly!" heartily responded Mrs. Stoddard, and Mr. Hand disappeared
like the mist before the sun.

It was to be an afternoon of excitement, after all, though Agatha
thought that she would apply herself to the straightening out of much
necessary business. But after an hour's work over letters at Parson
Thayer's desk, there occurred an ebullition below which could be
nothing less than the arrival of Lizzie, Agatha's maid, with sundry
articles of luggage. She was a small-minded but efficient city girl,
clever enough to keep her job by making herself useful, and
sophisticated to the point of indecency. No woman ought ever to have
known so much as Lizzie knew. Agatha was to hear how she had been
relieved by the telegram several days before, how she had nearly killed
herself packing in such haste, how she thought she was traveling to the
ends of the earth, coming thus to a region she had never heard of
before.

Big Simon, who had been instructed to watch for Lizzie and bring her
and her baggage out, presently arrived with the trunks, having sent the
maid on ahead in the buggy with his son. Big Simon positively declined
to carry the two trunks to the second floor, saying he thought they'd
like it just as well, or better, if he left them in the hall
down-stairs. Lizzie was angrily hesitating whether to argue with him
or use the persuasion of one of her mistress' silver coins, when Agatha
interfered, and saved her from making the mistake of her life. It is
doubtful if she could have lived in Ilion after having been guilty of
tipping one of its for