h she did not, to all appearance,
rally even after the chill had subsided.

She lay with her eyes shut, her lips pressed together and her forehead
drawn into lines, and an expression of pain on her face, answering only
in dull monosyllables to the inquiries made every now and then by her
nurse, who hovered about the bed and watched over her with anxious
solicitude.

As she feared, fever symptoms began to show themselves. The evening had
worn away, and it was past ten o'clock. It would not do to wait until
morning in a case like this, and so a servant was sent to the office of
Dr. Hillhouse, with a request that he would come immediately. She
returned saying that the doctor was not at home.

Mrs. Ridley lay with her eyes shut, but the nurse knew by the
expression of her face that she was not asleep. The paleness of her
countenance had given way to a fever hue, and she noticed occasional
restless movements of the hands, twitches of the eyelids and nervous
starts. To her questions the patient gave no satisfactory answers.

An hour elapsed, and still the doctor did not make his appearance. The
servant was called and questioned. She was positive about having left
word for the doctor to come immediately on returning home.

"Is that snow?" inquired Mrs. Ridley, starting up in bed and listening.
The wind had risen suddenly and swept in a gusty dash against the
windows, rattling on the glass the fine hard grains which had been
falling for some time.

She remained leaning on her arm and listening for some moments, while
an almost frightened look came into her face.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"After eleven o'clock," replied the nurse.

All at once the storm seemed to have awakened into a wild fury. More
loudly it rushed and roared and dashed its sand-like snow against the
windows of Mrs. Ridley's chamber. The sick woman shivered and the
fever-flush died out of her face.

"You must lie down!" said the nurse, speaking with decision and putting
her hands on Mrs. Ridley to press her back. But the latter resisted.

"Indeed, indeed, ma'am," urged the nurse, showing great anxiety, "you
must lie down and keep covered up in bed. It might be the death of you."

"Oh, that's awful!" exclaimed Mrs. Ridley as the wind went howling by
and the snow came in heavier gusts against the windows. "Past eleven,
did you say?"

"Yes, ma'am, and the doctor ought to have been here long ago. I wonder
why he doesn't come?"

"Hark! wasn't