her, and sat with her in the darkness, hoping for some break in the
dull reticence, but disappointed, for Janet hid her head in the
clothes, and slept, or seemed to sleep.

Perhaps Carey herself had been half dozing, when she heard the well-
known sounds of arrival, and darted down stairs, meeting indeed the
welcoming eye and smile; but "Ah, here she is!" was said so hoarsely
and feebly, that she exclaimed "Oh Joe, you have knocked yourself
up!"

"Yes," said Dr. Lucas, whom she only then perceived. "He must go to
bed directly, and then we will see to him. Not another word,
Brownlow, till you are there, nor then if you are wise."

He strove to disobey, but cough and choking forbade; and as he began
to ascend the stairs, Caroline turned in dismay to the kind, fatherly
old man, who had always been one of the chief intimates of the house,
and was now retired from practice, except for very old friends.

He told her that her husband was suffering from a kind of sore throat
that sometimes attacked those attending on this fever, though
generally not unless there was some predisposition, or unless the
system had been unduly lowered. Joe had indeed been over-worked in
the absence of several of the regular practitioners and of all those
who could give extra help; but this would probably have done little
harm, but for a cold caught in a draughty room, and the sudden stroke
with which the day had begun. Dr. Lucas had urged him to remain at
home, and had undertaken his regular work for the day, but summonses
from his patients had been irresistible; he had attended to everyone
except himself, and finally, after hours spent over the critical case