Page:Pratt portraits - sketched in a New England suburb (IA prattportraitssk00full).pdf/148

 sweet spring world. Then he lifted the latch and entered into the chill shadow of sordid cares.

A woman met him in the little dark entryway. She was a young, timid-looking creature, and little children were clinging to her skirts. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes unnaturally bright. Anson thought he had never before noticed how pretty she was, and, stooping to pat the cheek of one of the children, he said, cheerily:

"Well, Mrs. Ellery, I hope your husband is doing well to-day."

"O Doctor!" she answered, in a voice that sounded strained and weak, "I was just going to send after you. He's been that bad all day, that I was afraid to wait till you'd come."

A queer shock went through Anson, as he drew himself up and looked again into her face; but he recovered himself instantly, and saying, "I'm sorry you've been anxious, but I guess we shall have him all right again pretty soon," he passed into the sick-room with her. The children remained huddled together in the dark entry.

The sick-room was on the north side of the house, and seemed chilly and comfortless. The patient lay with closed eyes on the bed. A strange, bluish pallor overspread his face, and he was breathing hard and painfully. Dr. Bennett took in his the hand that lay upon the calico counterpane. It was cold and clammy, and again that strange shock went through him.