〃Very。〃
  〃And　you　told　me　yourself　carelessness　was　the　cause　so　many
  children　die。〃
  〃That　is　true。〃
  She　gave　him　a　curious　and　rather　searching　look；　then；　leaning
  over　her　boy；　said；　〃Mammy's　not　afraid。　　Beautiful　Pet　was　not
  born　to　die　directly。　　He　will　never　leave　his　mam…ma。　　No；　uncle；
  he　never　can。　　For　my　life　is　bound　in　his　and　his　dear　father's。
  It　is　a　triple　cord：　one　go；　go　all。〃
  She　said　this　with　a　quiet　resolution　that　chilled　Uncle　Philip。
  At　this　moment　the　nurse；　who　had　been　bending　so　pertinaciously
  over　some　work　that　her　eyes　were　invisible；　looked　quickly　up；
  cast　a　furtive　glance　at　Mrs。　Staines；　and　finding　she　was　employed
  for　the　moment；　made　an　agitated　signal　to　Dr。　Philip。　　All　she　did
  was　to　clench　her　two　hands　and　lift　them　half　way　to　her　face；　and
  then　cast　a　frightened　look　towards　the　door；　but　Philip's　senses
  were　so　sharpened　by　constant　alarm　and　watching；　that　he　saw　at
  once　something　serious　was　the　matter。　　But　as　he　had　asked　himself
  what　he　should　do　in　case　of　some　sudden　alarm；　he　merely　gave　a
  nod　of　intelligence　to　the　nurse；　scarcely　perceptible；　then　rose
  quietly　from　his　seat；　and　went　to　the　window。　　〃Snow　coming；　I
  think；〃　said　he。　　〃For　all　that　we　shall　have　the　March　summer　in
  ten　days。　　You　mark　my　words。〃　　He　then　went　leisurely　out　of　the
  room；　at　the　door　he　turned；　and；　with　all　the　cunning　he　was
  master　of；　said；　〃Oh；　by　the　by；　come　to　my　room；　nurse；　when　you
  are　at　leisure。〃
  〃Yes；　doctor；〃　said　the　nurse；　but　never　moved。　　She　was　too　bent
  on　hiding　the　agitation　she　really　felt。
  〃Had　you　not　better　go　to　him；　nurse？〃
  〃Perhaps　I　had；　madam。〃
  She　rose　with　feigned　indifference；　and　left　the　room。　　She　walked
  leisurely　down　the　passage；　then；　casting　a　hasty　glance　behind
  her；　for　fear　Mrs。　Staines　should　be　watching　her；　hurried　into　the
  doctor's　room。　　They　met　at　once　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and
  Mrs。　Briscoe　burst　out；　〃Sir；　it　is　known　all　over　the　house！〃
  〃Heaven　forbid！　　What　is　known？〃
  〃What　you　would　give　the　world　to　keep　from　her。　　Why；　sir；　the
  moment　you　cautioned　me；　of　course　I　saw　there　was　trouble。　　But
  little　I　thoughtsir；　not　a　servant　in　the　kitchen　or　the　stable
  but　knows　that　her　husbandpoor　thing！　poor　thing！Ah！　there　goes
  the　housemaidto　have　a　look　at　her。〃
  〃Stop　her！〃
  Mrs。　Briscoe　had　not　waited　for　this；　she　rushed　after　the　woman；
  and　told　her　Mrs。　Staines　was　sleeping；　and　the　room　must　not　be
  entered　on　any　account。
  〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　the　maid；　rather　sullenly。
  Mrs。　Briscoe　saw　her　return　to　the　kitchen；　and　came　back　to　Dr。
  Staines；　he　was　pacing　the　room　in　torments　of　anxiety。
  〃Doctor；〃　said　she；　〃it　is　the　old　story：　'Servants'　friends；　the
  master's　enemies。'　　An　old　servant　came　here　to　gossip　with　her
  friend　the　cook　（she　never　could　abide　her　while　they　were
  together；　by　all　accounts）；　and　told　her　the　whole　story　of　his
  being　drowned　at　sea。〃
  Dr。　Philip　groaned；　〃Cursed　chatterbox！〃　said　he。　　〃What　is　to　be
  done？　　Must　we　break　it　to　her　now？　　Oh；　if　I　could　only　buy　a　few
  days　more！　　The　heart　to　be　crushed　while　the　body　is　weak！　　It　is
  too　cruel。　　Advise　me；　Mrs。　Briscoe。　　You　are　an　experienced　woman；
  and　I　think　you　are　a　kind…hearted　woman。〃
  〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Mrs。　Briscoe；　〃I　had　the　name　of　it；　when　I　was
  youngerbefore　Briscoe　failed；　and　I　took　to　nursing；　which　it
  hardens；　sir；　by　use；　and　along　of　the　patients　themselves；　for
  sick　folk　are　lumps　of　selfishness；　we　see　more　of　them　than　you
  do；　sir。　　But　this　I　WILL　say；　'tisn't　selfishness　that　lies　now　in
  that　room；　waiting　for　the　blow　that　will　bring　her　to　death's
  door；　I'm　sore　afraid；　but　a　sweet；　gentle；　thoughtful　creature；　as
  ever　supped　sorrow；　for　I　don't　know　how　'tis；　doctor；　nor　why
  'tis；　but　an　angel　like　that　has　always　to　sup　sorrow。〃
  〃But　you　do　not　advise　me；〃　said　the　doctor；　in　agitation；　〃and
  something　must　be　done。〃
  〃Advise　you；　sir；　it　is　not　for　me　to　do　that。　　I　am　sure　I'm　at　my
  wits'　ends；　poor　thing！　　Well；　sir；　I　don't　see　what　you　can　do；
  but　try　and　break　it　to　her。　　Better　so；　than　let　it　come　to　her
  like　a　clap　of　thunder。　　But　I　think；　sir；　I'd　have　a　wet…nurse
  ready；　before　I　said　much：　for　she　is　very　quickand　ten　to　one
  but　the　first　word　of　such　a　thing　turns　her　blood　to　gall。　　Sir；　I
  once　knew　a　poor　womanshe　was　a　carpenter's　wifea…nursing　her
  child　in　the　afternoonand　in　runs　a　foolish　woman；　and　tells　her
  he　was　killed　dead；　off　a　scaffold。　　'Twas　the　man's　sister　told
  her。　　Well；　sir；　she　was　knocked　stupid　like；　and　she　sat　staring；
  and　nursing　of　her　child；　before　she　could　take　it　in　rightly。　　The
  child　was　dead　before　supper…time；　and　the　woman　was　not　long
  after。　　The　whole　family　was　swept　away；　sir；　in　a　few　hours；　and　I
  mind　the　table　was　not　cleared　he　had　dined　on；　when　they　came　to
  lay　them　out。　　Well…a…day；　nurses　see　sorrow！〃
  〃We　all　see　sorrow　that　live　long；　Mrs。　Briscoe。　　I　am　heart…broken
  myself；　I　am　desperate。　　You　are　a　good　soul；　and　I'll　tell　you。
  When　my　nephew　married　this　poor　girl；　I　was　very　angry　with　him；
  and　I　soon　found　she　was　not　fit　to　be　a　struggling　man's　wife；　and
  then　I　was　very　angry　with　her。　　She　had　spoiled　a　first…rate
  physician；　I　thought。　　But；　since　I　knew　her　better；　it　is　all
  changed。　　She　is　so　lovable。　　How　I　shall　ever　tell　her　this
  terrible　thing；　God　knows。　　All　I　know　is；　that　I　will　not　throw　a
  chance　away。　　Her　body　SHALL　be　stronger；　before　I　break　her　heart。
  Cursed　idiots；　that　could　not　save　a　single　man；　with　their　boats；
  in　a　calm　sea！　　Lord　forgive　me　for　blaming　people；　when　I　was　not
  there　to　see。　　I　say　I　will　give　her　every　chance。　　She　shall　not
  know　it　till　she　is　stronger：　no；　not　if　I　live　at　her　door；　and
  sleep　there；　and　all。　　Good　God！　inspire　me　with　something。　　There
  is　always　something　to　be　done；　if　one　could　but　see　it。〃
  Mrs。　Briscoe　sighed　and　said；　〃Sir；　I　think　anything　is　better　than
  for　her　to　hear　it　from　a　servantand　they　are　sure　to　blurt　it
  out。　　Young　women　are　such　fools。〃
  〃No；　no；　I　see　what　it　is；〃　said　Dr。　Philip。　　〃I　have　gone　all
  wrong　from　the　first。　　I　have　been　acting　like　a　woman；　when　I
  should　have　acted　like　a　man。　　Why；　I　only　trusted　YOU　by　halves。
  There　was　a　fool　for　you。　　Never　trust　people　by　halves。〃
  〃That　is　true；　sir。〃
  〃Well；　then；　now　I　shall　go　at　it　like　a　man。　　I　have　a　vile
  opinion　of　servants；　but　no　matter。　　I'll　try　them：　they　are　human；
  I　suppose。　　I'll　hit　them　between　the　eyes　like　a　man。　　Go　to　the
  kitchen；　Mrs。　Briscoe；　and　tell　them　I　wish　to　speak　to　all　the
  servants；　indoors　or　out。〃
  〃Yes；　sir。〃
  She　stopped　at　the　door；　and　said；　〃I　had　better　get　back　to　her；
  as　soon　as　I　have　told　them。〃
  〃Certainly。〃
  〃And　what　shall　I　tell　her；　sir？　　Her　first　word　will　be　to　ask　me
  what　you　wanted　me　for。　　I　saw　that　in　her　eye。　　She　was　curious：
  that　is　why　she　sent　me　after　you　so　quick。〃
  Dr。　Philip　groaned。　　He　felt　he　was　walking　among　pitfalls。　　He
  rapidly　flavored　some　distilled　water　with　orange…flower；　then
  tinted　it　a　beautiful　pink；　and　bottled　it。　　〃There；〃　said　he；　〃I
  was　mixing　a　new　medicine。　　Tablespoon；　four　times　a　day：　had　to
  filter　it。　　Any　lie　you　like。〃
  Mrs。　Briscoe　went　to　the　kitchen；　and　gave　her　message：　then　went
  to　Mrs。　Staines　with　the　mixture。
  Dr。　Philip　went　down　to　the　kitchen；　and　spoke　to　the　servants　very
  solemnly。　　He　said；　〃My　good　friends；　I　am　come　to　ask　your　help　in
  a　matter　of　life　and　death。　　There　is　a　poor　young　woman　up…stairs；
  she　is　a　widow；　and　does　not　know　it；　and　must　not　know　it　yet。　　If
  the　blow　fell　now；　I　think　it　would　kill　her：　indeed；　if　she　hears
  it　all　of　a　sudden；　at　any　time；　that　might　destroy　her。　　We　are　in
  so　sore　a　strait　that　a　feather　may　turn　the　scale。　　So　we　must　try
  all　we　can　to　gain　a　little　time；　and　then　trust　to　God's　mercy
  after　all。　　Well；　now；　what　do　you　say？　　Will　you　help　me　keep　it
  from　her；　till　the　tenth　of　March；　say？　and　then　I　will　break　it　to
  her　by　degrees。　　Forget　she　is　your　mistress。　　Master　and　servant；
  that　is　all　very　well　at　a　proper　time；　but　this　is　the　time　to
  remember　nothing　but　that　we　are　all　one　flesh　and　blood。　　We　lie
  down　together　in　the　churchyard；　and　we　hope　to　rise　together　where
  there　will　be　no　master　and　servant。　　Think　of　the　poor　unfortunate
  creature　as　your　own　flesh　and　blood；　and　tell　me；　will　you　help　me
  try　and　save　her；　under　this　terrible　blow？〃
  〃Ay；　doctor；　that　we　will；〃　said　the　footman。　　〃Only　you　give　us
  our　orders；　and　you　will　see。〃
  〃I　have　no　right　to　give　you　orders；　but　I　entreat　you　not　to　show
  her　by　word　or　look；　that　calamity　is　upon　her。　　Alas！　it　is　only　a
  reprieve　you　can　give　her　and　to　me。　　The　bitter　hour　MUST　come
  when　I　must　tell　her　she　is　a　widow；　and　her　boy　an　orphan。　　When
  that　day　comes；　I　will　ask　you　all　to　pray　for　me　that　I　may　find
  words。　　But　now　I　ask　you　to　give　me　that　ten　days'　reprieve。　　Let
  the　poor　creature　recover　a　little　strength；　before　the　thunderbolt
  of　affliction　falls　on　her　head。　　Will　you　promise　me？〃
  They　promised　heartily；　and　more　than　one　of　the　women　began　to
  cry。
  〃A　general　assent　will　not　satisfy　me；〃　said　Dr。　P