TEDDY GINNISS sat alone in his master's office, feeling very sad and
forlorn: for Dr. Wentworth had that morning said that the chance of
life for his little patient was very, very small; and it seemed to
Teddy heavier news than human heart had ever borne before. His
morning duties over, he had seated himself at his little table, and
tried to study the lesson given him by Mr. Burroughs upon the
previous day; but a heavy heart makes dim eyes, and the page where
Teddy's were fixed seemed to him no better than a crowd of
disjointed letters swimming in a blinding mist.

A hasty step was heard upon the stair; and, passing the sleeve of
his jacket across his eyes, the boy bent closer over the book as his
master entered the room.

"Any one been in this morning, Teddy?" asked Mr. Burroughs, passing
into the inner office.

"No, sir."

"I am going out of town for a day or two, Teddy,--going to New York;
and Mr. Barlow will be here to attend to the business. You will do
whatever he wishes as you would for me. You understand?"

"Yes, sir."

The good-natured young man, struck by the mournful tone of Teddy's
usually hearty voice, turned and looked sharply at him.

"Aren't you well, Teddy?"