Page:Pratt portraits - sketched in a New England suburb (IA prattportraitssk00full).pdf/183

 bed and the pictured shepherdesses. Once or twice the doctors asked some service of her, which she performed swiftly and exactly, after which she slipped back to her disregarded post.

Just after midnight Anson opened his eyes once more, and smiled faintly. Dr. Morse bent toward him.

"Bennett," he said, with a compassionate look toward the mother, "Bennett, this has been a great strain upon your system. It is only fair to tell you that it is possible that you may not pull through."

"Tell me again," the patient questioned, "was there anything wrong about the operation?"

"The operation was magnificent," his friend declared, "but you don't seem to have the vitality you need."

"That's no account, Doctor, that's no account." The dying man's voice was almost querulous. "The operation's the thing. That's all we care about."

Then turning to Ellery he added, half apologetically: "You see, Doctor, I once did a little doctoring myself, and I've kept up my interest in these things."

His mother put her hand on his, and he looked at her wonderingly.

"Why, mother," he said. "You up so late? Hadn't you better go to bed?"

Toward morning he rallied once more, and signed to Ellery to come nearer. The young man bent a grave face to listen.