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 Mistress Condit uttered a little cry and, turning, found herself in her son's embrace, while Mehitable and Charity, as usual, swarmed upon him affectionately. He clasped his friend's hand eagerly then.

"Nay, less commotion!" warned John laughingly, in a low voice. Tis a sick-room ye be in, lasses! Come ye out into the kitchen!"

"Art home for long, Son?" asked the Squire, following the others into the kitchen before departing once more to his interrupted tasks.

"Nay, sir, for but an hour," answered the young man. "I be on my way to Newark and thereabouts, upon His Excellency's business. However," he added quickly, at sight of the look upon his mother's face, "I will return this night, I think, for I have permission to tarry a day with you." Then as Doctor Carter followed into the kitchen, he turned eagerly to him. "And now, sir, what happened to Sturgins?"

His alert young face was all aglow with professional interest the older recounted accident.

"Ye will try bleeding?" he asked when the other had finished.

Mehitable and Charity, shuddering, glanced at each other. Although bleeding, or the process of taking blood from the veins of their patients, was the common practice of every physician of that day for almost every ailment, these two fortunate little maids knew nothing beyond the word.

"Aye, if he remains senseless," returned Doctor Carter.

"Then I shall try my best to return this night, for it