and that his voice was hollow, and sometimes reduced to a
whisper; but he ascribed this, himself, to the circumstance that he had
taken a cold. Whether the deacon believed this account or not, it might be
difficult to say; but he appeared to give it full credit. Perhaps his mind
was so much occupied with the subject of his discussions with Daggett,
that it did not sufficiently advert to the real condition of the man.

Twice, that afternoon, did Deacon Pratt go between the cottage of the
Widow White and his own dwelling. As often did the relict fly across the
way to express her wonder to the Widow Stone, at the frequency of the rich
man's visits. The second time that he came was when he saw the whale-boat
rounding the end of Shelter Island, and he perceived, by means of his
glass, that Dr. Sage was in it. At this sight the deacon hurried off to
the cottage again, having something to say to Daggett that could no longer
be delayed.

"The whale-boat will soon be in," he observed, as soon as he had taken his
seat, "and we shall shortly have the doctor here. That young Gar'ner does
what he has to do, always, with a jerk! There was no such haste, but he
seems to be ever in a hurry!"

"Do what is to be done at once, and then lie by, is the sailor's rule,
deacon," rejoined the mariner. "Squalls, and gusts, and reefin', and
brailin' up, and haulin' down, won't wait for the seaman's leisure. _His_
work must be done at once, or it will not be done at all. I'm not afeard
of the doctor; so let him come as soon as he pleases. Medicine can't hurt
a body, if he don't take it."

"There's one thing I wish to say to you, Daggett, before Dr. Sage comes
in. Talking too much may excite you, especially talking of matters that
are of interest; and you may give him a false impression of your state,
should you get the pulse up, and the cheek flushed, by over-talking."

"I understand you, deacon. My secret is my secret, and no doctor shall get
it out of me as long as I know what I say. I'm not so friendly with them,
as to seek counsel among doctors."

"Then it's the Lord's day," added the Pharisee, "and it is not seemly to
dwell too much on worldly interests, on the Sabbath."

A novice might have been surprised, after what had passed, at the
exceeding coolness with which the deacon uttered this sentiment. Daggett
was not so in the least, however; for he had taken the measure of his new
confidant's conscience, and had lived long enough to kno