"Mrs. Wilson dangerously ill; letter follows."

Mrs. Wilson was Mr. Hastings' only remaining sister. His mother had died
when he was almost an infant, and this "sister Mary" had slipped into
her place as mother, teacher--everything, to her little brothers and
sisters; never leaving them, till the father having died also, and her
young charges being all old enough to settle in life for themselves, she
had rewarded the faithful waiting of her old lover, and they had settled
down together in a quiet village a few miles from the noisy town where
his business lay. Her happy married life lasted but a short time,
however, and for the many years since her husband's death she had
preferred to live entirely alone with her two maids and a strange medley
of pet animals--finding employment and interest for her declining years
in her books and her garden.

From being so long alone she had grown eccentric in her ways, and very
odd and decided in her views; but she kept a warm corner in her heart
for her favourite brother and his children, who heartily returned their
aunt's affection, though they stood a good deal in awe of her keen
penetrating gaze and sarcastic criticisms.

She had always prided herself on her good constitution, and despised
doctors and dentists as people who pandered to the fads and fancies of a
degenerate generation--a generation who, according to her creed,
weakened their backs and ruined their health by lounging on sofas and
easy chairs, while, for her part, though seventy years of age, she was
thankful to say a straight-backed chair was good enough for her. It may
be imagined that for this self-reliant, vigorous Aunt Mary to be taken
seriously ill, so ill as to have to summon help, was a great shock, and