bar no longer
needed his services, and she was somewhat pessimistic in her remarks.
A week went over, and they only saw Dr. Dodona as his big sorrel mare
drew his cutter over the Monk Road in a whirl of snow. Then one day he
passed, accompanied by James Piper, and Nancy could endure the suspense
no longer.

"We'll just have an early supper, an' I'll go over an' ask at the
house," she said, decisively, to Katie Duncan. But a heavy rap at the
door disturbed them at their meal. Nancy hastened to answer the
summons, for she knew it was the doctor.

"I regret my not keeping to my word, Mistress McVeigh, but I am
travelling fast these days. I have a lot of sick people to attend to,
and the Pipers are in very bad shape."

Nancy's eyes bespoke her sympathy as he continued: "Willie Piper has
diphtheria. Little Annie has it also, and to-day Miss Sophia has
broken down. I'm afraid she is in for it, too."

"Fer land sakes, ye don't say so!" Nancy exclaimed, more to punctuate
his words, so that she could digest their import thoroughly.

"They've got to have a nurse, and at the present moment I don't know
where such a person can be secured," the doctor declared, desperately.

"An' have ye fergotten the blarney ye gave me the night o' the
accident?" Nancy inquired, in a hurt tone.

"You don't mean you will go?" he asked, his face lighting up suddenly.

"An' why not? Faith, an' I'm fair sick meself stayin' about the house
doin' nothin' but keepin' comfortable; an' my experience with Jennie
will help me. Old Mrs. Conors is at the p'int of starvation since her
husband died, an' I've been thinkin' o' takin' her in fer company.
I'll just send Katie over the night to tell her to come in the mornin',
so that the child won't be alone."

"I knew that you would help me out of this difficulty, Mistress
McVeigh. I don't want anything to happen to Miss Sophia, she is such a
great friend of mine."

Nancy was about to speak, then checked herself and looked at him
keenly. "The wonders o' the world are no dead yit," she ejaculated,
under her breath.

"I took the liberty of mentioning your name to James Piper before I
came here to-day, and he will see that you are well paid for your
work," the doctor added, hurriedly, guessing what was passing in the
mind of the old woman.

"Ye can just tell James Piper I'll have none o' his money. The very
impudence o' him to offer it! It's to help the children and Miss
Sophia, an' not fer